April 20: 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B Jeimer Candelario out of lineup with illness
Manager David Bell didn’t give specifics on what the symptoms were but said Encarnacion-Strand wasn’t feeling well in advance of the Reds’ series finale in Seattle on Wednesday, and he remained out when the team returned home on Friday. Candelario had flu-like symptoms before he was sent home from the ballpark on Tuesday and was out on Friday for the third straight game. The two are just the latest Reds players to fall victim to the bug that has swept its way through the clubhouse since Spring Training. Between sickness, colds and allergies, the Reds have battled the sniffles all season long.
April 20: 2B Livan Soto claimed off waivers from the Orioles; RHP Tejay Antone transferred to the 60-day IL
Soto, who plays second base, third base and shortstop, has been on a waiver-wire boomerang back and forth between the Angels and Orioles since February. Optioned to Triple-A Louisville, he joins the Reds’ organization to add depth to its infield. Over 22 big league games from 2022-23 with the Angels, he batted .375 with a .945 OPS but has lower production numbers over his Minor League career. Antone, who had season-ending right elbow surgery last week, moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster.
- All Reds transactions
10-DAY/15-DAY IL
RHP Ian Gibaut (right forearm strain)
Expected return: TBD
Gibaut was returned from his rehab assignment on April 19 after he dealt with renewed right forearm discomfort. He was evaluated and cleared to resume playing catch. If he feels good, manager David Bell said, Gibaut could resume his rehab assignment as soon as next week. (Last updated: April 19)
OF TJ Friedl (right wrist)
Expected return: May
After a brief slowdown from pushing himself, Friedl was cleared to ramp up his swing again and has been building his arm strength. Manager David Bell said Friedl could begin a rehab assignment between 10 days and two weeks from now if all continues to progress well.
Friedl’s injury dates back to a Spring Training game against the Mariners on March 16, when he attempted a diving catch and rolled his glove hand in the process. (Last updated: April 19)
LHP Sam Moll (left shoulder)
Expected return: April
Moll will pitch again on Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville and make his seventh appearance with the affiliate. The left-hander has a 1-1 record with an 8.44 ERA in his six appearances so far this season, allowing five earned runs and eight hits across 5 1/3 innings. The southpaw began his rehab stint on March 29.
Moll started behind in camp after developing shoulder soreness during his offseason throwing program and opened the regular season on the injured list so he could build up his workload. (Last updated: April 15)
LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder)
Expected return: Late May
After being shut down during Spring Training, Williamson began a throwing program on April 2, but has not worked off of a mound. Manager David Bell expected that Williamson would have to go back to square one of his Spring Training plan and build up to getting through five innings. That likely sets his target to return somewhere near the end of May. (Last updated: April 10)
LHP Alex Young (back)
Expected return: Late May
Young, who dealt with a back injury during camp, recently began playing catch again, but he is not close to throwing from a mound. Manager David Bell noted that Young is essentially starting his Spring Training process from scratch and will need the time to build back up again. The progression is expected to take him into late May. (Last updated: April 10)
60-DAY IL
RHP Tejay Antone (right elbow)
Expected return: 2025
Antone was moved to the 60-day IL on April 19 after he had right elbow and arm surgery on April 12 that repaired tears in his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor mass tendon. It was performed in Cincinnati by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek. He is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season, but a full timetable for a return was not immediately known.
Antone, 30, has a 2.47 ERA over 45 big league games since 2020. (Last updated: April 19)
2B Matt McLain (left shoulder)
Expected return: Possibly second half
McLain had a follow-up visit with a doctor, and there now appears to be a timeline of 4-6 months for a return from his March 26 surgery that repaired his labrum and cartilage damage. Another follow-up is scheduled in about a week.
“There is a chance he gets back this year,” manager David Bell said.
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