ANAHEIM, California – After several days sidelined by a sore left thumb, the Cincinnati Reds sent starting catcher Tyler Stephenson for imaging that revealed a small fracture on the tip of the thumb that landed him on the injured list, retroactive to Aug. 17.
It’s the second injury blow in less than a week for the Reds, who trailed the New York Mets for the National League’s final playoff position by one game with 35 to play. Rookie pitcher Chase Burns went on the IL over the weekend for a Grade 1 flexor tendon strain.
It’s not yet clear whether this is a regular-season-ending injury Stephenson might be out, the team said.
He’s to be examined further when the team travels to Arizona later in the week for a series against the Diamondbacks.
The process for now involves Stephenson being able to work back into playing form as he’s able to tolerate the pain.
Stephenson, who said early in the week that the injury wasn’t initially considered serious enough to warrant x-rays, tested the progress of the injury by catching Nick Lodolo’s bullpen session Tuesday in Anaheim.
He originally hurt the thumb catching a Hunter Greene pitch last week on what seemed like a routine play. “Super random,” he said. When it flared up during the next game, he was sidelined and missed the next four games until the IL move.
Jose Trevino, the former Platinum Glove catcher who has caught every inning since, assumes full-time starter duties.
The Reds called up Will Banfield from Triple-A Louisville. His first game for the Reds will be his big-league debut.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Broken thumb lands Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson on injured list
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
