LATEST NEWS

May 8: RHP Rhett Lowder promoted to Double-A Chattanooga
Lowder, the starting pitcher ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati’s No. 2 prospect and No. 31 overall, was 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in five starts with High-A Dayton. Over his 25 1/3 innings, the 22-year-old Wake Forest product had six walks compared to 29 strikeouts. The Reds selected Lowder with seventh overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

May 8: 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand placed on the 10-day IL; 1B/DH Mike Ford signed to a one-year contract; LHP Brandon Williamson transferred to the 60-day IL
Encarnacion-Strand, who was hit on the right hand by a pitch on April 27 at Texas, was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture. The initial X-rays and MRI did not reveal a fracture from that incident but an old fracture did appear. He has struggled for much of the season and is batting .190 with a .513 OPS and two home runs in 29 games.

Ford had been released last week from his Minor League contract after he opted out from playing for Triple-A Louisville, where he batted .297 with a .919 OPS and six homers. He returns to the big league squad after a strong Spring Training for Cincinnati.

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10-DAY/15-DAY IL

1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (right hand fracture)
Expected return: June
Encarnacion-Strand was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture on the inside of his hand near his wrist on May 8. It happened from being hit by a pitch on April 27 at Texas, and the fracture did not show up on an initial X-rays. He was expected to miss four to six weeks and be examined again in three weeks (Last updated: May 8)

60-DAY IL

LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: Late May
Williamson is getting close to beginning a rehab assignment, and he's scheduled to report to High-A Dayton early in the week of May 13, manager David Bell said. The team is targeting the end of May for his return. (Last updated: May 10)

LHP Alex Young (low back disk degeneration)
Expected return: Late May
Young began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on May 2 and has tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings in three appearances. He dealt with a back injury during Spring Training and made just one appearance on March 12, so he will need time to build back up. The progression is expected to take him into late May. Young was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 24. (Last updated: May 10)

2B Matt McLain (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: Possibly second half
Six weeks removed from shoulder surgery, McLain was cleared to resume throwing and running. He might be able to start swinging a bat in an additional six weeks, which he said would help determine a clearer timeline for his rehab. Both McLain and manager David Bell reaffirmed that the goal is for McLain to return this season. (Last updated: May 10)

RHP Ian Gibaut (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Later in 2024
Gibaut, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 7, underwent surgery on May 9 to relieve a compression in a forearm nerve -- called the Anterior Interosseous Nerve or AIN -- and although there were no immediate specifics, he was expected to require an extended recovery time. However, manager David Bell noted that Gibaut was expected to be able to pitch at some point this season. The club officially halted Gibaut’s rehab assignment for a second time after he reported feeling discomfort in his right forearm during his April 26 appearance with Triple-A Louisville. (Last updated: May 9)

RHP Tejay Antone (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Antone was moved to the 60-day IL on April 19 after he had right elbow and arm surgery on April 12 that repaired tears in his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor mass tendon. It was performed in Cincinnati by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek. Antone, 30, has a 2.47 ERA over 45 big league games since 2020. (Last updated: April 19)

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