It didn’t take long following the Cincinnati Reds‘ unconventional but thrilling defensive walk-off victory on Tuesday for the mood to turn. The post-game revelation that Hunter Greene had possibly re-injured the right groin that landed him on the 15-day injured list in May loomed over the celebrations.
That development also required the Reds personnel brain trust, including manager Terry Francona, to stay late at Great American Ball Park in order to weigh Greene’s condition, and possible backup options.
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Before the images from Greene’s Wednesday morning MRI could even be read, the decision had been taken to place him back on the 15-day IL. Francona explained the rationale during his morning meeting with reporters in his office.
Hunter Greene came out of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, June 3 after five innings when his groin injury flared up. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven.
“We talked to (Greene). Talked to trainers. Since it’s happened once, now this is twice. We’ve got to figure this out,” Francona said. “And then, like, his lower back was starting to − (we’re) trying to figure out if it’s related. So, we’ve got to get him healthy. So, yeah, it was kind of an easy decision even without seeing the MRI.”
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Greene heads to the injured list carrying a 4-3 record with a 2.72 ERA in 11 starts.
With Greene’s situation settled, and the Reds needing to backfill his spot in the rotation by next week, a one-year major league contract for veteran, 38-year-old pitcher Wade Miley was the club’s next move. The contract was announced Wednesday morning, and Francona said Miley was in full uniform in the clubhouse around 8:30 a.m. ahead of the club’s scheduled 12:40 p.m. series finale against Milwaukee.
Wade Miley was in uniform and available to work out of the bullpen Wednesday, June 4 after re-signing with the Reds. He’s tentatively set to start the series opener in Cleveland June 9.
Miley had been on a rehab assignment in the Reds’ minor-league system resulting from last year’s Tommy John surgery, but on June 1 he elected to test free-agency. Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall and others felt Miley deserved a chance to survey the marketplace for starting pitchers, which he did.
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Just a few days later, though, Miley indicated he’d landed where he wanted to with Cincinnati, a place where he’d pitched two seasons in 2020 and 2021, posting a 12-10 overall record and 3.55 ERA.
“We always stayed in contact throughout,” Miley said of his brief period as a free agent. “It was more of less just looking at the situation where, obviously, the five starters here are throwing the ball great and I was pretty open with Nick. Like, I don’t want to mess that up. They’re throwing great. Physically, I think I’ll be fine in the bullpen. Wasn’t sure, but they allowed me to go see if there’s any starting jobs out there and at the end of the day, here we are.”
Francona was visibly excited by the Miley’s return to the clubhouse after he’d rehabbed with the club throughout spring training in Goodyear, Arizona.
“We’ve been waiting for him,” Francona said. “There’s no getting around it. He’s a bright light, man. He brings a lot, and we’re all glad about that.
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“He had the right to elect free agency and I know he talked to several teams. I know how much he appreciated Nick’s honesty, so we were gonna have him in the bullpen and knowing that at some point, we’d probably need him. Well, happened a little quicker, so, he’ll be in the bullpen today (June 4) and if he’s used, good. If he’s not, he’ll pitch the first day in Cleveland (June 9), and we’ll put him in the rotation.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Wade Miley is a Cincinnati Reds pitcher again. Here’s how it happened