Outfielder Austin Hays will begin the season on the injured list for the Cincinnati Reds.
Hays will be placed on the 10-day IL for a minor calf ailment that Hays reported after a flight, Francona said, adding that it was minor. Francona said the Reds would back-date the IL designation, which could result in Hays missing as few as six games.
Advertisement
Hays’ status, which Reds manager Terry Francona discussed during a Wednesday news conference at Great American Ball Park, was part of a series of moves announced ahead of Thursday’s Opening Day game against the San Fransisco Giants.
“He doesn’t know when he did it,” Francona said. “We got off the flight (to Cincinnati) and the next morning, he was a little sore. So, I think he just thought it would go away. The next morning, it didn’t. So, we got him scanned and it’s a very low-grade – I mean, very low-grade. But because of his history – you know, he tried to play through this last year at the beginning of the year and it got him in some trouble, so we just need to nip this in the bud.”
New Reds outfielder Austin Hays, left, could miss as few as six games with a minor calf injury that has him starting the season on the injured list.
In a move Francona said was corresponding move, Spencer Steer (shoulder) will begin 2025 on the active roster. Of that decision, Francona said: “Everything you heard me say about Steer, erase it. OK? I didn’t mean it.”
Advertisement
The initial rehab plan set forth for Steer was that he’d head north with the team when it broke camp in Goodyear, Arizona, continue throwing with trainers and build at-bats via advanced machines and live pitching until starting a minor-league rehab assignment.
On Wednesday, Francona said the Reds weren’t sure where he’d get that hitting done, and he’ll still be able to work on his throwing.
“He can (designate hit) some. He doesn’t have to do it every day,” Francona said. “I think this biggest thing is he wanted to do it. I wasn’t comfortable doing to him and asking him after everything we’d talked about. He was pretty adamant that he was ready to do it.”
Playing a position defensively isn’t in play yet, Francona noted.
Advertisement
Francona also announced that outfielders Blake Dunn and Jacob Hurtubise had made the Opening Day roster, and that Stuart Fairchild would be designated for assignment on Thursday. Fairchild was out of contractual minor-league options.
Fairchild was a Reds veteran of 229 games and 119 hits for Cincinnati the last three seasons.
The Enquirer will update this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Austin Hays will open Cincinnati Reds season on IL. Here’s why