Kevin Newman Goes to Cincinnati Reds’ Injured List, Jake Fraley Shares Toe Update

The Cincinnati Reds have placed infielder Kevin Newman on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, the team announced Saturday.

The move was made retroactive to Wednesday, since Newman hasn't appeared in a game since Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Newman was also on the injured list in July due to gastritis.

Newman was hitting .253 with a .675 OPS through 74 games this season – his first with the Reds after spending the last five with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since returning from that previous injured list stint, though, the 30-year-old was batting .200 with a .530 OPS.

Prior to the All-Star break, Newman had a .304 batting average and .901 OPS against left-handed pitchers, but even those figures have dipped to .278 and .813, respectively.

Newman hitting the injured list frees up a roster spot for infielder Noelvi Marte, the Reds' No. 1 prospect who got called up for his major league debut Saturday. Although Marte was not listed in Cincinnati's starting lineup, he could be available to sub in at shortstop or third base.

While Newman spends the next few weeks on the mend, outfielder Jake Fraley could be approaching a return from his own stint on the injured list.

Fraley has been sidelined since Aug. 4 with a stress fracture in his left fourth toe. The breakout slugger had a promising MRI on Friday, though, and he was seen practicing in the outfield Saturday, according to Cincinnati.com's Charlie Goldsmith.

Fraley told reporters that his toe will eventually need surgery, but that he plans to play through the injury for the time being. As a result, the former Seattle Mariners outfielder could be trending towards an earlier return than some believed when news of his MRI came out this week.