Reds Injuries & Roster Moves: Encarnacion-Strand, McLain reinstated from 60-day IL

Reds Injuries & Roster Moves: Encarnacion-Strand, McLain reinstated from 60-day IL

October 28th, 2024

This roster moves and injury updates page will be updated throughout the offseason as news happens. Players currently on the 60-day injured list will need to be added back to the Reds' 40-man roster after the conclusion of the World Series.

LATEST NEWS

Oct. 28: IF (right ulnar styloid fracture) and IF (left shoulder surgery) reinstated from the 60-day injured list; LHP and INF/OF designated for assignment
The moves to activate Encarnacion-Strand and McLain were procedural, as both returned to the 40-man roster to be eligible to participate in the Arizona Fall League. McLain missed the whole 2024 season recovering from left shoulder surgery. Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games last season and batted .190 with two homers before having season ending surgery to repair a ulnar styloid fracture in his right hand.

INJURY UPDATES

RHP (torn UCL)
Expected return: 2026
President of baseball operations Nick Krall revealed that Aguiar has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Aguiar underwent Tommy John surgery, which was preformed by Dr. Keith Meister, on Oct. 11. He is not expected to return until the 2026 season. Aguiar, who allowed seven runs in four-plus innings in his last start against the Braves, was placed on the injured list on Sept. 24, ending his season. Aguiar, the Reds’ No. 11 prospect, first felt the injury in a side session he threw after his start. (Last updated: Oct. 12)

LHP (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Abbott never got back to the rotation before the 2024 campaign ended, but he began a throwing program and throwing in side bullpen sessions. He is expected to have a regular offseason and return for Spring Training in '25. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

LHP (left middle finger sprain)
Expected return: 2025
Lodolo went on the injured list on Aug. 27. The club wanted Lodolo’s finger to fully heal, so it didn’t try to rush him back or have him advance far into a throwing program. He spent four different stints on the IL for four different injuries in 2024 after making only seven starts in 2023. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

1B/DH (fractured left big toe)
Expected return: 2025
Candelario did not play after Aug. 19 because of continued pain in his toe from being hit by a pitch on his foot. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

LHP (left shoulder impingement)
Expected return: 2025
The Reds shut Moll down for the season so that he can focus on offseason treatments. The southpaw was dealing with the shoulder injury since mid-June, but it worsened on Sept. 6, when it started to hurt while he was warming up in the bullpen. Though Moll felt well enough to enter a Sept. 7 game against the Mets, he did not retire any of the three batters he faced before landing on the IL the following day. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

60-DAY IL

LHP (left UCL tear)
Estimated return: Maybe 2025
An MRI exam on Sept. 18 revealed a complete tear of Williamson’s ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. A surgery date hasn’t been set, but the normal timeline likely could cost him much of the 2025 season, if not all of it. The Reds moved him to the 60-day IL on Sept. 24 in a procedural move to activate Nick Martini. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

C (right teres major tear)
Expected return: 2025
Wynns was initially slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville in mid-September, but on Sept. 21, then-manager David Bell said that the Reds decided to shut the catcher down for the season to try to get him completely healthy and built up for next season. He was injured trying to make a throw to third base against the Rays on July 28. (Last updated: Sept. 24)

RHP (right elbow strain)
Expected return: 2025
Ashcraft was scheduled to begin throwing off a mound on Sept. 17, with the goal of having him face hitters in live batting practice in early October. There are no plans for Ashcraft to get into fall or winter ball games. The club just wants him to face hitters before going into a normal offseason routine. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

OF (torn left thumb ligament)
Expected return: 2025
Fairchild has had season-ending surgery to repair the torn ligament. He is scheduled to remain in Cincinnati for rehab until Sept. 22, then head to Arizona to continue the process. The expectation is that Fairchild will be healthy in time for Spring Training next year. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

RHP (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Antone, who had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and arm surgery to repair tears in his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor mass tendon on April 12, has been working out near his home in Texas, lifting weights and undergoing physical therapy. Reporting that he has been feeling good and is not in pain, Antone is scheduled to undergo MRI and ultrasound exams in October to check on his progress. If all goes well, Antone could be cleared to begin throwing with weighted plyo training balls. (Last updated: Sept. 4)

• More injury news

SS (left shoulder surgery; No. 3 on Reds' top prospect list, No. 67 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Arroyo, who is out for the season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder during Spring Training, is starting a game progression at the team's spring complex in Goodyear, Ariz. He has also been tapped to participate in the Arizona Fall League.

In a March 13 Cactus League game vs. the Giants, the 21-year-old Arroyo was injured diving back to first base on a pickoff throw. (Last updated: Sept. 2)

RHP (right shoulder sprain)
Expected return: 2025
Roa has yet to make his big league debut, but he was called up and placed on the 60-day IL on Aug. 19 to free up a spot on the 40-man roster when the Reds selected righty Julian Aguiar's contract. The 25-year-old Roa has been sidelined since Aug. 11 due to a shoulder sprain. He owns a 5.55 ERA in 48 2/3 innings and 23 appearances (four starts) with Triple-A Louisville this season. (Last updated: Aug. 19)