Reds center fielder’s status uncertain

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Nick Senzel had just made one of the better diving catches of his MLB career.

In the fourth inning of Thursday’s Opening Day against the St. Louis Cardinals, Senzel raced to left-center field on a line drive from Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. Senzel laid out and made the catch while landing hard on the ground.

One half-inning later, Senzel left the game with a left shoulder injury. Tyler Naquin pinch-hit for Senzel in the bottom of the inning, and Senzel’s first game of the year was cut short.

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"Obviously, he did something on that great play he made, diving play," manager David Bell said. "It was significant enough to come out of the game, but we probably won’t have the full knowledge of what to expect until tomorrow."

Since the start of spring training, manager David Bell has called Senzel the Reds everyday center fielder. Senzel was coming off the best spring training of his career, hitting .333 with four extra-base hits in 39 at-bats.

The Reds had Senzel hitting sixth in the lineup on Thursday, but he only had one turn to hit before he left the game.

Senzel has had previous issues during games with his left and his right shoulders. In September 2019, Senzel had surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder.