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It’s been a longer than expected wait for Donovan Solano after injuring his hamstring in spring training, but he was finally back on a Major League roster Tuesday.
Solano was activated from the 60-day injured list before the Cincinnati Reds’ series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park. Nick Lodolo was transferred to the 60-day IL as a procedural move to make room for Solano on the 40-man roster.
Signed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract during spring training, Solano had 10 hits in 29 at-bats (.345 batting average) in nine games on his rehab assignment with four doubles, a homer, two walks and four strikeouts.
“My timing was good,” said Solano, who strained his hamstring at the end of spring training. “You know, hitting is up and down. Sometimes, you start the season hot. Sometimes, you start the season cold. I feel great. I feel like my timing is in the right spot. Hopefully, it’ll continue what I’m feeling.”
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Solano spent the last three seasons with the San Francisco Giants and carved out a regular platoon role. He doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in the Reds’ infield with Brandon Drury entrenched at third base, but manager David Bell says he will find regular at-bats for Solano against more than just left-handed pitching.
The Reds have only three true outfielders on their 26-man roster, but Max Schrock and Matt Reynolds are backup outfield options. Solano played the last game of his rehab assignment at shortstop and could become an option to backup Kyle Farmer.
“We were really excited to acquire him,” Bell said, “and in spring training he had the injury, so it's been a tough recovery for him. But he's healthy now and we know how good of a player he is. So, he's definitely going to help us.”
The Reds are entering a stretch where they will face back-to-back lefties against the Dodgers, Tyler Anderson and Clayton Kershaw. It looks like they’ll miss lefties Carlos Rodón and Alex Wood when they travel to San Francisco, but they could face another in their following series against the Chicago Cubs.
“I’m ready for whatever position, whatever situation,” Solano said. “I think everybody here is ready to help the team in any way. You know, I’ve got to enjoy every single moment on this club and the moments ahead.”
Cincinnati Reds injury updates
• Lodolo was transferred to the 60-day IL, but he will be eligible to return next week, so the move doesn’t affect his timeline. He is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday and expected to throw four innings (65-70 pitches.)
The Reds haven’t determined if that will be Lodolo’s final rehab start before rejoining the rotation or if he will make two more rehab starts.
• Justin Dunn, one of the four players the Reds acquired in the Eugenio Suárez/Jesse Winker trade with the Seattle Mariners, is scheduled to make a rehab start with High-A Dayton on Sunday. Dunn has been sidelined all year with a shoulder injury, but he began ramping up his throwing at the Reds’ spring training facility in Arizona over the past week.
Dunn had a 3.75 ERA across 11 starts with Seattle last season. He struck out 49 and walked 29 in 50 1/3 innings.
• Outfielder Tyler Naquin was expected to miss at least a month after he strained his quad in Boston earlier this month, but he’s well ahead of schedule and could begin a rehab assignment this week.
Naquin has been running the bases and fielding balls in the outfield during batting practice.
“He’s going to run the bases again (Wednesday),” Bell said. “If that goes well, I think it’s real close.”
• Vladimir Gutierrez said he was waiting for some imaging on his elbow Tuesday, which will determine if he’s ready to begin throwing bullpen sessions this week.
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