Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Senzel was having one of the best stretches of his young career, playing multiple positions and batting at the top of the Reds lineup.
That progress will be put on hold.
On Wednesday, the Reds announced that Senzel will have surgery on his left knee and miss four-to-six weeks.
“One of these days, all of this is going to be behind him and he's going to be able to play and not worry about any of these injuries,” manager David Bell said. “Injuries are always part of the game, don't get me wrong. He's just worked too hard and he has a long way to go.”
Bell said Senzel has dealt with knee inflammation during his career that would affect him at certain times. Bell said he hadn’t heard about “anything significant with his knee” until May 17, the last day Senzel appeared in a game.
Senzel played his last game that Monday against the San Francisco Giants. Starting at third base, he made a few highlight defensive plays. Senzel remained on the 26-man roster until he was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 21 due to knee soreness.
This Friday, Senzel will have surgery on his left knee.
“I don't believe it was one play or anything like that,” Bell said. “It could have been. Something happened that day that really kind of aggravated it. It may not be a new injury, it may be wear and tear over the years. It did really act up that day and kind of led to where we are today.”
Senzel had a .252 batting average and a .638 OPS this season, and he was hitting .302 over his last 15 games. Bell said Senzel’s surgery is more of a “scope.” He said he anticipates Senzel returning to the lineup when he’s fully healthy.
Even though Senzel has been with the Reds for three years, he has only played in 163 MLB games due to injuries in each season.
“I'm very positive that he's going to get to a point where he's healthy and not have to worry about any of this,” Bell said. “He deserves it. When that time comes, which is hopefully after this knee surgery, man, it's just so exciting to see what he can do on the field.”
“We all got a taste of it on the major league field, watching what he was doing at multiple positions so athletically, gracefully, making all the plays and contributing offensively, running the bases, just really seeing the full picture of what he can do on the field. It's very rare. We can't wait to get him back, for a lot of reasons.”
Kyle Farmer makes a key adjustment
Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer went back and watched the tape.
After going 4-for-26 at the plate over the Reds recent seven-game home stand, Farmer analyzed each of his swings. He realized he needed to be more aggressive against fastballs.
In his first at-bat against Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer in Tuesday’s 2-1 win, Farmer homered against Scherzer’s fastball.
“I’ve been getting beat by some fastballs as of lately, and I’m trying to hit the fastball out front,” Farmer said. “Against the Brewers, I kept fouling off like a 91 mile fastball right down the middle. I’ve been working on getting out in front of the fastball and more of an attack mentality.”
Scherzer, a three time Cy Young Award winner and a seven time All-Star, is considered to have one of the best fastballs in MLB. On Tuesday, he threw nine fastballs for strikes in the first two innings, and the Reds swung and missed at five of them.
Scherzer had only allowed four homers off his fastball all season, but Farmer pulled a 94 mph pitch over the left field fence near the foul pole.
“Watching my old swings the past 5 games, I was late on fastballs,” Farmer said. “I said, ‘I’m going to try to hit the fastball out in front today.’ Fortunate enough, I got a fastball first pitch and I hit it out.”
Opening Day Part 2
With Great American Ball Park allowing full capacity crowds beginning June 2, the Reds are making that first day back a celebration.
The Reds game on June 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies has been dubbed “Re-Opening Day.” Beginning on that date, masks will be optional for fans at Great American Ball Park.
“We are excited to once again have every seat available at Great American Ball Park for fans to see Reds baseball live,” Reds president Phil Castellini said in a statement. “We hope fans are ready to ‘pack the park’ to cheer on our Reds and party like it’s Opening Day.”
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