Before the Cincinnati Reds games on Saturday and Monday, Nick Senzel (left knee inflammation) worked with the rest of the team during pregame warmups.
In addition to taking batting practice, Senzel went through drills with the outfielders and drills with the infielders.
When Senzel has taken ground balls recently, he has lined up at shortstop.
“I do want him to be prepared to come back and play as many positions as possible,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I think we got a sample right before he was injured.”
Senzel has been the Reds starting center fielder for almost his entire MLB career. Before he suffered a knee injury that required surgery in May, Senzel began making starts at second base and at third base.
Senzel was an infielder in the Minor Leagues and in college, and he immediately became one of the Reds best infield defenders when he started playing those positions in May.
“It was actually my first time, really, seeing him play in the infield – second and third," Bell said. "For a player that didn’t do much work and was just inserted into the lineup in those spots, what he was able to do – mainly I saw him at third—was really incredible.”
“If he could play some short when he comes back, if he can play center field, it’s just going to create more opportunities for him to play.”
Bell said Senzel could begin a rehab assignment as early as next week. Before his knee injury, Senzel frequently hit near the top of the lineup.
Bell has said Senzel isn’t expected to return to the Reds in July, but Senzel hasn’t been ruled out to play in early August.
“(That) was really encouraging news for all of us,” Bell said. “We just had a discussion about that, so no guarantees, but that would be the earliest.”
Cincinnati Reds bullpen gets two new relievers from Triple-A
With the Reds looking for depth and new options in the bullpen, Cincinnati called up two new relievers on Monday.
The Reds called up relievers Edgar García and R.J. Alaniz from Triple-A, and both pitchers will make their season debut when they make their first appearance.
“(Louisville Bats manager Pat Kelly) called me in, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen right now,’” García said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I got the call (up to the Reds), and it felt like it was the first day I was being called up.”
García, a 24-year-old right-hander, has pitched in 41 MLB games over the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. In Triple-A this season, García had a 3.38 ERA in 24 games.
Alaniz, a 30 year-old right-handed pitcher, threw in eight games out of the Reds bullpen in 2019. This season, Alaniz had a 2.25 ERA in Triple-A this season.
Neither pitcher was on the 40-man roster, so the Reds designated Louisville Bats outfielder Mark Payton and reliever José De León for assignment. Reliever Cionel Pérez was also optioned to Triple-A.
Nick Castellanos next steps after wrist injury
Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos took his next steps on Monday as he recovers from a sore wrist after a hit by pitch on Friday.
Before the game, Castellanos played catch on the field and stretched with the rest of the team.
“No concerns for anything more severe than we thought or anything like that,” Bell said. “Just not quite ready to be in the lineup yet today.”
“It’s one of those injuries that, as soon as he’s ready, as soon as the swelling gets out of there, he’s going to be able to swing.”
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