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Reds Notes: Newman, India, Lively, Marte, Fraley

By Mark Polishuk | August 19, 2023 at 5:37pm CDT

Noelvi Marte’s arrival in the majors is the big news out of Cincinnati today, but Marte’s promotion came with a notable corresponding move.  The Reds announced that infielder Kevin Newman was placed (retroactive to August 16) on the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain.

The severity of the injury isn’t yet known, though even if Newman has suffered a Grade 1 strain, any setback or lingering effects could mean that his 2023 season is over.  The 30-year-old has hit .253/.311/.364 over 253 plate appearances in his first season with the Reds, after being acquired from the Pirates back in November.

Newman and Jose Barrero shared the starting shortstop role before Matt McLain’s promotion in mid-May, as Barrero was ultimately sent to the minors and Newman became a pure utilityman.  Newman made some starts at second base and third baseman, but even that playing time dwindled as more and more of Cincinnati’s star infield prospects gradually made their way to the Show.

This is Newman’s second IL stint of the year, after he missed a 10-day minimum in July dealing with gastritis.  Heading into the trade deadline, Newman was seen as a potential or even likely trade chip given the Reds’ increasingly crowded infield picture, yet Cincinnati either couldn’t find an appropriate deal or simply opted to hang onto the veteran as an experienced depth option.  Rather than a trade, this oblique injury has now unfortunately taken Newman out of the picture for at least the next 10 days.

Manager David Bell provided the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith (X link) and other reporters with updates on other injured Reds players, including the news that Jonathan India will undergo another MRI on Thursday.  Since a previous MRI revealed a worsened tear in India’s plantar fascia, the second baseman was already expected to be out of action until at least a week into September, with some question as to whether or not India would be able to return at all this season.

The next MRI comes a few days before the end of India’s planned two-week shutdown from running, so the test will reveal if the tear has continued to widen, or if the shutdown has been effective in at least limiting the damage.  It seems likely that India will require some type of procedure to address his plantar fasciitis, though he and the Reds hope that any surgery might be able to be held off until the offseason.

Bell also said that Ben Lively will make another rehab outing before the club considers reinstating him from the 15-day IL.  Lively has twice been sidelined due to right pectoral strains this season, with his most recent absence starting with his IL placement on August 2.  With his 15 days now up, Lively is eligible to be activated at any time, though he has thrown only 5 2/3 combined innings over two previous rehab starts, with an ungainly 15.88 ERA.

The injuries to India and Newman have provided an unwelcome answer to Cincinnati’s potential infield surplus, as there is now plenty of room for the Reds to find playing time for their up-and-comers.  Bell said that Marte will be the regular third baseman, with Spencer Steer now moving into more regular work in left field.  Steer has already seen a good deal of left field time this season, as his versatility has been almost as useful to the Reds as his potent bat.  Steer has bounced between left field, first base, and third base, and also even picked up a few appearances as a second baseman.

Jake Fraley is another Reds player looking to return from the IL before 2023 is over, though Fraley told Goldsmith that he’ll need offseason surgery to properly fix a fracture in his left foot and a cracked fourth metatarsal.  Fraley was presented with the option of undergoing the season-ending procedure now, but he is instead trying to tough it out, ramping up his baseball activities to include a live batting practice today and an increased running program.

There’s certainly some real risk for Fraley, as he said that doctors told him that playing on the fractured foot could result in a clear break.  However, “the reason why they’re ok with me playing through this is that even if I do something like that, which would be a worst case scenario, it doesn’t change the recovery time of the surgery,” Fraley said, noting that he is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training.  Fraley is willing to gamble further injury in order to be part of the Reds’ playoff push, saying “if you tell me there’s a 1% chance with a cool team like this, I’m going all-in.”

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Cincinnati Reds Notes Transactions Ben Lively Jake Fraley Jonathan India Kevin Newman Noelvi Marte Spencer Steer

Tigers Sign Carson Kelly, Designate Eric Haase
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View Comments (10)
Post a Comment

10 Comments

  1. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 years ago

    India probably won’t be back this season. Actually surprised they would let Fraley.

    If so, I hope they let the others play every day against any pitcher. You don’t learn to hit like handed pitching by sitting.

    4
    Reply
    • Armaments216

      2 years ago

      If a player has always had strong platoon splits coming up through the minors, he’s probably not that likely to significantly narrow those splits at the big league level.

      On the other hand if there’s been a drop-off against like-handed pitching only since reaching MLB, then it makes sense to try to give him some more time to come around. Of course for a team in a playoff race, there’s a definite need to balance player development with actually trying to win games.

      Reply
  2. Paleobros

    2 years ago

    Goodbye, Newman.

    8
    Reply
    • tonyinsingapore

      2 years ago

      He actually was key to the Reds, mashing against LHP and batting lead off. Seems many sportswriters are too busy to research information like this….

      1
      Reply
      • Macbeth

        2 years ago

        I think they’re just making a Seinfeld joke.

        5
        Reply
  3. Braves_saints_celts

    2 years ago

    Fraley, my favorite new age viking, and proving it too cause he’s tough as nails, go get it man! And I hope to see you help the reds make the playoffs because that would be amazing just to see them in when they were written off completely to start the years. If the braves meet y’all in the playoffs though I hope we whip that a word! I love baseball in general no matter what and I especially like a feel good story and the reds certainly are one. With how young and exciting their team is, they will be a force to reckon with for years to come as long as they get some good pitching in the off-season!

    4
    Reply
    • davidrocholl

      2 years ago

      I totally agree with you!!!

      2
      Reply
    • apuuli

      2 years ago

      Giants fan here. We’re leaking oil and hope we make post-season. Young Reds are dynamic and exciting. Good luck. See you next week!

      1
      Reply
  4. Jack Buckley

    2 years ago

    Marte is a beast Reds are loaded at least for a few years, they’ll be fun to watch

    1
    Reply
  5. Jack Buckley

    2 years ago

    I live in Phoenix, I go to Arizona Fall League annually, I’ve seen Ronald Acuna, Pete Alonso Vlad Jr, it’s a 6 major league teams per squad sends 5 top prospects Weather is great in Arizona in October/ November, you’d love it, they play in spring training facilities, probably 300 people per game, last year, Cardinals had Mason Winn and Jordon Walker, Marte is going to be great

    Reply

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