Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand will have wrist surgery on July 11 and there’s a three-month recovery timeline. If that timeline holds, that means he won’t be able to return during the regular season. Manager David Bell relayed the information to reporters today, with Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer among those to pass it along. X link one and two.
It’s been a frustrating and unusual saga for Encarnacion-Strand. Back at the end of April, he was hit on the hand by a pitch and X-rays were negative but revealed a small pre-existing fracture. The infielder said he didn’t know how that came about and that he wasn’t in any discomfort prior to being hit by that pitch.
He was placed on the injured list about a week later, with the club describing his ailment as a right ulnar styloid fracture. Just over a week ago, Bell revealed that surgery was being considered and it now seems that it has been deemed necessary. Given the three-month recovery timeline, Encarnacion-Strand won’t be able to return this year unless the club makes the playoffs and survives through the middle of October. Even if that does come to pass, it will be a challenge for him to get back into game shape and earn his way onto the roster, so it seems there’s a decent chance his 2024 is effectively done.
That’s a very frustrating blow for Encarnacion-Strand and the club. A highly-touted prospect, he debuted with a splash last year by hitting 13 home runs in his first 63 major league games. He slashed .270/.328/.477 overall for a wRC+ of 112.
He was undoubtedly hoping to build off that with a healthy and productive showing in his first full season, but it hasn’t come to pass. He hit just .190/.220/.293 in his 29 games this year and that will almost certainly be his final line when the year is over. He’s already on the 60-day injured list and is now slated to stay there for the rest of the campaign.
For the team, this just adds to the number of missed opportunities by their players this year. Noelvi Marté was hit with an 80-game PED suspension and has missed the entire season thus far. Injuries have plagued Matt McLain, TJ Friedl and various pitchers on their staff, leaving the club fairly hampered all year long.
Their season is still alive thanks to the weak National League Wild Card race. The Reds are just 37-41 but that is only 2.5 games out of a playoff spot at the moment. That’s somewhat encouraging but it also leads to plenty of “what if” questions amid all the various issues the club has dealt with.
Encarnacion-Strand was the everyday first baseman prior to the landing on the injured list but that job has primarily fallen to Spencer Steer in recent months. Marté could return soon to possibly factor into the third base mix and perhaps that will lead to Jeimer Candelario moving over to first base at times. That could push Steer into a corner outfield role, where Will Benson and Jake Fraley are having underwhelming seasons.
As long as he has been out, no surprise. The Reds delay saying a guy is done for the year forever for some unknown reason even though they know better.
Guess we are to watch Candelario butcher first base the rest of the year as Steer has to play left field since they didn’t get the corner outfielders they should have in the offseason.
Indecision has consequences just as well as decisions do.
You know the player gets a say in it too, right
This is the USA. Only the govt has a say on our health care!
You can’t use logic with the above poster that belongs to One Flew over the cuckoo’s nest.
CES like other players when they have injuries that can possibly be played through will hold out on surgery. That’s what he did. I also don’t believe he didn’t know he got a fracture before the season. He was bad from the get go. Even if swinging at everything is not the product of an injury. He tried to play through it but was not up front about it. Last year India was the same way. He could play enough but injured enough not to be useful after around June.
Couldnt be the organizations fault. No way. Their track record is way too stellar.
I thought the Reds were stupid for signing Candelario but right about now with all the attrition for the Reds and baseball in general it has become a shrewd signing to be sure. Well played.
“Reds were stupid”…There is a reason that front office guys run baseball operations and fans sit in the stands making commentary and eating hot dogs.
And he hits.
They lose significantly more than they win so do they actually know something the average fan doesnt? Enlighten me please.
Speaking of Reds, Austin Kearns is now 44. You’re welcome if that makes you feel old also.
Barry Larkin being 60yo as such a dynamic player on the ’90 WS champs seems weird, but it has been a long time!
Idk why but I always thought that Larkin looked similar to oj Simpson
I can’t believe that Jerry Seinfeld is 70 myself
The Real Killer was Barry Larkin!!
I still remember Dibble, Myers and Charlton…
Mr. Willie McGee: If you think you’re feeling old, I still remember Rose, Bench and Morgan.
The Reds’ medical staff and management are infamous for mishandling injuries and then months later scheduling surgery! India last year, now CES gets hurt and the surgery is THREE MONTHS after the injury! Stick a fork in them, they are done this year. They will use injuries as an excuse to fail to sign the solid outfielder they needed this year.
“Infamous for mishandling injuries”…For the life of me, I’ve never understood why these Ivy League team doctors don’t just consult all the Monday morning quarterback, medical geniuses in the “Trade Rumors” comments section before they plan and execute surgeries. Everyone’s a “medical” genius with the benefit of hindsight, right Josh?
INFAMOUS!
*lists two questionable examples
Instead of just Twitter ranting at someone, maybe do some research on a team. The fact that the Reds medical staff has that reputation is pretty well known and not a new thing.
Least invasive first is the standard practice in every medical practice ever
Just because fans selfishly want to see their favorite players back on the field sooner rather than later doesn’t make that any different for baseball
Can u name the Ivy League dr who handles the reds injuries ? Bc if I had to guess I bet it’s the owners nephew. They’d do better hiring a Monday morning qb or better yet a witch doctor. Anything is better than what they are doing.
Worst in baseball with handing injuries ? Try worse in all of professional sports. Reds have no clue
Sorry but you’re wrong. The White Sox and by proxy also the Bulls are the worst Dr’s and trainers in Pro Sports. And College Sports. And Little League. Dr. Vinnie Boom Batz over there has ruined and stalled more careers than death.
Its called a track record of bungling injuries. Its not mine or your opinion, we have an actually track record that disagrees with you.
This isn’t the best article to say this but can we have a vladdy Yankees comments article
“Isnt the best article”…Vlade Jr. came off as a rat, trying to desert a sinking ship with his recent Yankees comments.
So you can all say the most negative things possible. You’re both looking for spaces to spew your derision. Totally gross.
His comments made it even less likely the Yankees would want him.
“Yankees would want him”…That’s what I thought too. It’s pretty arrogant of Vlade to think the Yankees covet him. Overpaid, slow and portly 1bman simply are not coveted the way they were in the past.
Marte should be playing soon.
7-49; .309ops…
There’s no way they can call him up until he’s hitting.
Juice makes a difference and the PED 80 game suspension is a science-based timeframe (juice then out of the player’s system)…
No it’s not.
Look kids, another moron who thinks “rehab assignment” stats mean something
Unfortunate for Strand. In my opinion, he did not get as much of an opportunity as he may have deserved last year. This year injuries, plus his decision to have the surgery now (instead of after the season) prevent him from having much opportunity. Next year , Marte at 3rd, Candelario at either 1st or DH, plus India without a position (McLain at 2nd) may give CES a lot more AAA AB than he wants. But that’s baseball.
Cincinnati Guy
1B Jeimer
Middle De La Cruz and McLain
3B Noelvi
OF Steer, Friedl and Fraley (Benson is # 4)
DH Encarnacion-Strand
Super utility India, unless he is traded
India is scorching hot and Marte is batting .150 in AAA. India has shown ability over a full season, Marte has not. What am i missing?
Benson and Fraley are not having underwhelming seasons. Fraley is having a good year while Benson is having a terrible one.
King
Agree 50%.
Yes, Benson, OPS+ 86, is having a terrible season.
Fraley, OPS+ 92, and slugging .052 below Fraley’s career slugging average, is having an underwhelming season.
You’re right, Manny.
Fraley is not hitting the ball with authority as usual for whatever reason. Benson is not hitting at all.
The only way to fix this injury is with a Transubstancion-Ligament procedure.
One can see the inevitable upcoming sales at the deadline. How deep will they go this time to save a buck?
They will say they are doing it for prospects, “for the future”…again.
No playoff series wins since 1995.
No playoff appearances since 2012.
For a reason.
Facts dont matter here apparently. Keep your facts to yourself!
Yes, the altar worshippers can’t have that.
Pray tell, who would you include in the “fire sale”? Montas would be the only one we have who could remotely fall into that category. If we can’t resign him for a reasonable price we should trade him at the deadline. Candelario maybe but that would be foolish unless someone over pays.
That was exactly my reaction yesterday when I read this. This “one can see the inevitable sales at the deadline” but who else can? He literally pulls things out of his backside.
As you correctly point out, Montas might have been traded, whether contending or not IF the rest of the staff were healthy AND the top pitching prospects were doing well in the upper minors. Neither is the case and despite the injuries and mediocre hitting they are still in contention. He’ll likely stay put.
I don’t see a major collapse with the pitching being as good as it has been. They will likely add an OF bat before the deadline if they can find a reasonable deal. They’re not trading Candelario, with CES and Marte being question marks.