Just a day after returning from the 10-day injured list, Jesse Winker is heading back to the IL due to the same intercostal strain that sidelined him for over a month. The Reds announced that both Winker and fellow outfielder Shogo Akiyama have been placed on the 10-day IL, with Akiyama suffering from a right hamstring strain. The two open roster spots will be filled by outfielder TJ Friedl (whose contract was selected from Triple-A), and right-hander Art Warren, who was activated from the 60-day IL.
Winker was hit by a Brusdar Graterol pitch in the eighth inning of last night’s 3-1 win over the Dodgers, and had to be removed from the game for a pinch-runner. Reds manager David Bell indicated that the swing prior to the HBP may have been the cause of Winker’s re-aggravation, but whatever the cause, Winker will now again miss time given this crucial stretch of the Reds’ season.
Given the timing, it is certainly possible that Winker might not play again in 2021. He’ll miss at least the next 10 days, and even if he is able to return after this second intercostal issue, the Reds might not want to risk further injury if the team is already out of the playoff race. This is technically the third time that Winker has been sidelined with this intercostal injury, as he missed a few games prior to his first IL stint in an attempt to solve the problem through some rest, before again being hampered when returning to action.
It’s a terrible break for both Winker and the Reds, as Winker’s bat is a major reason why Cincinnati is even in the postseason race. Winker has 24 home runs and a .305/.394/.556 slash line over 485 plate appearances, with a 151 wRC+ that ranks fifth among all players with at least 450 PA.
Winker and Akiyama join Tyler Naquin (bruised ribs) on the IL, leaving the Reds suddenly thin in the outfield. Aristides Aquino and Max Schrock have been serving as a left field platoon in Winker’s absence, with Delino DeShields getting action along with Naquin and Akiyama in center field. With Akiyama now out, it opens the door for Friedl to make his Major League debut as the Reds play some of their most important games of the season.
Friedl joined the Reds as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and he has worked his way through the system up to the Triple-A level this year, where he has batted .264/.357/.422 with 12 homers in 448 PA. Baseball America ranked Friedl 22nd on their midseason list of the top 30 prospects in Cincinnati’s farm system. Friedl has experience at all three outfield positions and has spent the bulk of his time in center, so he could essentially slide right into Akiyama’s spot as a left-handed hitting complement to DeShields.
Warren’s return might also be no small matter for a Reds bullpen that is eager for fresh arms. Warren posted a 1.88 ERA over 14 1/3 innings before being placed on the injured list due to an oblique strain back on July 15. The right-hander has posted some big strikeout numbers since the start of the 2018 minor league season, which earned him a brief look on the Mariners’ roster during the 2019 season. The Rangers claimed Warren from the Mariners after last season, and Cincinnati then acquired Warren in a trade with Texas last January.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
That’s tough for the Reds.
Did he get rushed back for a playoff push?
He lasted 8 innings. The answer is duh
Oh my goodness, YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME, right? Is this guy DUMB or FRAGILE?
‘I just felt like I wanted to play.’
Way to go Reds medical staff and management.
You should have kept him out at least another week if he obviously was still sore there. Way to give the damn Red Birds the wild card!
As much as I like Winker, this isi exactly why you don’t sign him to a long term deal. He has missed significant time every year with some type of injury. I.E. back, shoulder, intercostal. Give the money to Castellanos.
Shogo , no-go….a bust of a signing this guy was. Add it to the list of poor decisions. Hate to say it for Reds fans but getting knocked out of the WC race is the best thing that could happen for this team moving forward. It forces change and It’s gonna take a lot more than Dick Williams slinking off or ditching Kyle Boddy to turn this rudderless franchise into a winner again. The cheap thrill of a wild card birth in an odd down year from teams that won’t be down long will only prolong the inevitable. A complete philosophical and cultural shift from the top down is what it’s gonna take. And unfortunately, patience.
Agreed, Shogo is a complete waste of money. I am hoping Castellanos stays but I am thinking that is a pipe dream at this point.
This organization has been doing this type of nonsense for sooo long now..I remember all the way back when Mat Latos was pitching for us, he talked publicly about them rushing guys back from injuries way too fast..it’s so damn exhausting being a Reds fan..!
Zero reports on Kyle Boddy “parting ways” with the Reds…
Uh, Kyle Boddy issued his own press release, it’s on his Twitter page and was reported here at Trade Rumours in the previous Reds post. It’s Dated Sept 17. “…We are parting ways” and he thanks Dick Williams and the Reds for the opportunity etc…there it is.