The Reds announced this morning that outfielder Billy Hamilton and left-hander Cody Reed have been placed on the disabled list due to a left oblique injury and lower back spasm, respectively. The moves are retroactive to Sept. 5, but given the fact that rosters are currently expanded, the DL placements likely end the season for the pair of promising young talents. Hamilton, who turned 26 a week ago, enjoyed what has been his best overall season at the Major League level in 2016, hitting .260/.321/.343 in 460 plate appearances. While those numbers certainly don’t stand out, especially not when considering Hamilton’s home park, the .321 OBP is a career-best and represents a marked step forward for a player that posted just a .285 on-base percentage from 2014-15. Of course, he’s also a top-flight defender (13 runs above average per both Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating) and the game’s best baserunner (he easily leads the league with 12.9 runs above average on the basepaths, per Fangraphs). Though he’s dealt with some bumps and bruises this year, things are pointing up for Hamilton as he reaches arbitration eligibility this fall. As for the 23-year-old Reed, his debut campaign wasn’t quite what he might’ve hoped. He did manager to strike out 8.1 batters per nine innings, against 3.6 walks, but compiled only a 7.36 ERA over 47 2/3 frames in ten starts. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to earn a rotation spot out of camp for 2017.
Here are some more injury notes from around the game:
- It had seemed that Diamondbacks righty Rubby De La Rosa would be shut down for the year due to ongoing elbow soreness, but that may no longer be the case. As Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic tweets, manager Chip Hale says there’s still a chance that De La Rosa could return at the tail end of 2016. He’ll throw side sessions and perhaps even sim games while the team assesses both the health of his elbow and his command, per the skipper. “Maybe the last week of the season we get him in a game to see what he looks like,” said Hale.
- The Dodgers put Brett Anderson on the hill tonight in the Triple-A playoffs and he provided five solid frames, as MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reports. He is working back from a blister, and showed well with five strikeouts and zero free passes while allowing just one run on three hits. With the victory, Triple-A Oklahoma City stayed alive, meaning that fellow southpaw Scott Kazmir will take his own turn at a rehab outing, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register (via Twitter). Kazmir has been battling thoracic spinal inflammation, and his timeline has remained murky. It’ll be interesting to see whether either or both starters play a role down the stretch or in the postseason for the Dodgers. Kazmir is likely not to opt out of his contract regardless, but Anderson will be looking to show that he’s at full health entering another run at free agency. Still just 28 years of age, back issues have limited Anderson to just a pair of major league outings thus far — neither of which went well at all.
- Cardinals closer Seung-hwan Oh is back in action after resting a groin injury, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch tweets. Oh has been a tremendous find for St. Louis, providing 72 1/3 innings of 1.87 ERA ball on the year, and his return will be critical with just two weeks to go. His 2017 option is already guaranteed — he has accumulated exactly the thirty games finished that he needed — but the team was already surely excited to pick it up at just $2.75MM.
- The Pirates are still awaiting the return of outfielder Starling Marte, who has dealt with back spasms. Skipper Clint Hurdle says that he believes Marte will be ready to go tomorrow, as Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets. Unfortunately, it’s likely too late for the talented outfielder to impact the team’s postseason chances; Pittsburgh sat 5.5 games out of Wild Card position entering play today. The multi-talented 27-year-old has turned in another high-quality campaign, with a .311/.362/.457 batting line, nine home runs, and 47 steals, and his extension continues to look like an outstanding investment.
Anybody who is still questioning whether or not Billy Hamilton is a major league ball player needs to check their pulse
Hes the fastest player in the MLB and is a great defender just isnt a great hitter
He’s been much better in second half of year. Near night and day. He’s never going to be a extra base guy but if he can get on base at even that .320 clip he’s going to steal over 70 bases. Again though much better then that for some time.
Well if you can’t hit then your not a ball player technically, but Hamilton has been promising, he’s a classic Dee Gordon clone, let’s just hope Billy doesn’t do anything to get himself suspended
The way I count it out, the Dodgers are going to need their 4-5 starters only two more times. Hard to see where Anderson let alone Kazmir gets much opportunity, unless they split some starts or clinch early.
Really good point bud.
Well to be honest considering innings limit strip and Stewart seem to be all but done after sat. So those 2 starts there is going to be a Norris sighting and TBD once the division is clinched.
I haven’t heard of either Stripling or Stewart being being on innings limits though I could see how Stripling might well be.
Since this article was posted, Roberts announced that McCarthy had thrown a 90-pitch simulated game and was scheduled for another next week. Somewhere out there Wood is also lurking though probably not as a starting option at this point.
Roberts is going to be faced with some complicated roster decisions over the next two weeks. For one he has to decide who he carries as a 4th starter in the NLDS. My heart says De Leon but my brain tells me it’s more likely to be McCarthy, Anderson or Kazmir.
Well Strip was announced earlier in the year and today an article was mentioned Stewart’s. The problem is whether or not McCarthy will be built up enough for a start. DeLeon can possibly win the job but he needs to show his slider to be effective. He’s a two pitch pitcher right now with his fb/ ch so as of now it looks like a Bp possibility for the postseason.
It’s going to be interesting to see the postseason roster.
Indeed it will. Just another challenge for a rookie manager!
*manage
The ‘e’ and the ‘r’ are next to each other, and your fingers must have bumped the ‘r’..
He did manager to strike out 8.1 batters per nine innings, against 3.6 walks, but compiled only a 7.36 ERA over 47 2/3 frames in ten starts. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to earn a rotation spot out of camp for 2017.