Iglesias on pace to return after All-Star break
After first successful rehab start, recovering pitcher slated for two more
CINCINNATI -- The Reds got positive reports from Raisel Iglesias' first rehab start on Tuesday night, but they don't expect him to be activated until after the All-Star break. The club originally hoped he would be back a little sooner, but the timetable has Iglesias set for two more starts with Triple-A Louisville.
Working back from a strained left oblique that put him on the disabled list June 5, Iglesias threw 43 pitches over three scoreless innings for Louisville. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three.
"Very sharp," Reds manager Bryan Price said Wednesday. "I think he threw 21 pitches in the first inning, worked around an error and a walk. So I guess that was 22 pitches over the next two innings, so very, very efficient. He felt great, no issues at all with the oblique.
"It's probably more likely that he'll make two more starts and be ready just after the break. ... He'll get up to probably that neighborhood of 65-plus pitches in his next outing, but I'd say it's more likely post All-Star break that he'll be ready to re-enter the rotation."
• Lefty reliever Tony Cingrani, who has been on the DL since June 15 with a left shoulder strain, threw another bullpen session Wednesday morning. Instead of starting his rehab assignment with Louisville on Saturday, Cingrani was moved up to pitch Friday.
"He's feeling good. He's about as strong as he's been with his shoulder," Price said. "He's had a little bit of a reoccurring shoulder issue, so it's been really important to get him as strong as we possibly can get him, and he feels great. [We're] anticipating he'll go out and throw a couple of innings ... and come out feeling really good."
Price wanted Cingrani, an expected starter when Spring Training opened, to get stretched out so he could be prepared to fill multiple roles.
"With both Raisel and Tony, we're always a setback away from needing somebody. And once I know both of those guys have a couple of outings, to me, they become available to our ballclub," Price said. "I'd prefer they get completely stretched out and fulfill the rehab, but if we can get a couple of outings under their belt, then if we had to have them, we could activate them. I'd rather see them finish their rehabs."