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GOODYEAR, Arizona – Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, one of the league's top workhorse catchers last year, will open the season on the injured list because of a "low-grade internal oblique strain" on his left side, the team said Friday.
Stephenson, who's also one of the top bats in the Reds' lineup, was scratched from Wednesday's spring training lineup and was sent for an MRI Thursday afternoon.
Oblique injuries often fall into the category of tricky for predicting timelines, and manager Terry Francona offered none Friday except to acknowledge the likelihood of Stephenson opening on the IL.
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Typical recovery time is measured in weeks, and Francona suggested an expectation of Stephenson's down time being "on the lower side" of the typical range, in part because the team played it cautiously when Stephenson reported discomfort.
"It's a good thing he came to the trainer and they got him looked at," Francona said. "Because at first he said, 'I'm fine.' "
If there were good news for the Reds catching situation Friday, it's that they have a former All-Star and Platinum Glove winner ready to ascend from the backup role in Jose Trevino, who was acquired from the Yankees in a trade for Fernando Cruz over the winter.
"It's funny because you want your catcher to almost be indispensable, but you don't want to find out the hard way that he is," Francona said. "This winter we were racking our brains at the winter meetings – I know (team president) Nick (Krall) and (GM) Brad (Meador), they were grinding, man – because we were trying to find a catcher where if something happens, you've got a guy who can catch multiple days. That's not easy to do.
"That's why when they made the trade for Trevino, that's where this pays off."
The Stephenson injury also means that journeyman backup Austin Wynns makes the roster as Trevino's backup to open the season, barring an external move.
How the Reds backfill for Stephenson's run production remains to be seen,
"You can't have two Tyler Stephensons," Francona said. "Our job is to manage it the best we can, and I think we will. I think the guys will be fine, and we'll get him healthy and get him going again."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) to open season on IL
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Stephenson, who's also one of the top bats in the Reds' lineup, was scratched from Wednesday's spring training lineup and was sent for an MRI Thursday afternoon.
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Oblique injuries often fall into the category of tricky for predicting timelines, and manager Terry Francona offered none Friday except to acknowledge the likelihood of Stephenson opening on the IL.
Reds lineup third base Lux, Candelario Jeimer Candelario? Gavin Lux? Santiago Espinal? Who's on third for Cincinnati Reds?
Reds starting rotation Nick Lodolo Cincinnati Reds spring training: Reds drop Cactus League game to Athletics
Typical recovery time is measured in weeks, and Francona suggested an expectation of Stephenson's down time being "on the lower side" of the typical range, in part because the team played it cautiously when Stephenson reported discomfort.
"It's a good thing he came to the trainer and they got him looked at," Francona said. "Because at first he said, 'I'm fine.' "
If there were good news for the Reds catching situation Friday, it's that they have a former All-Star and Platinum Glove winner ready to ascend from the backup role in Jose Trevino, who was acquired from the Yankees in a trade for Fernando Cruz over the winter.
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"It's funny because you want your catcher to almost be indispensable, but you don't want to find out the hard way that he is," Francona said. "This winter we were racking our brains at the winter meetings – I know (team president) Nick (Krall) and (GM) Brad (Meador), they were grinding, man – because we were trying to find a catcher where if something happens, you've got a guy who can catch multiple days. That's not easy to do.
"That's why when they made the trade for Trevino, that's where this pays off."
The Stephenson injury also means that journeyman backup Austin Wynns makes the roster as Trevino's backup to open the season, barring an external move.
How the Reds backfill for Stephenson's run production remains to be seen,
"You can't have two Tyler Stephensons," Francona said. "Our job is to manage it the best we can, and I think we will. I think the guys will be fine, and we'll get him healthy and get him going again."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) to open season on IL
Continue reading...
