Cincinnati Reds' left-hander Nick Lodolo says he is pain-free while pitching, which is big news as he aims to earn a spot in the team's Opening Day starting rotation.
Per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com:
Lodolo, 26, acknowledged that his leg isn't feeling 100 percent yet but he is pain-free when pitching.
“That’s where I got into trouble last year. I was feeling it and tried to continue going for a month-and-a-half. It just gave out," he said. "We’re trying to avoid that. We’re being smarter with the build-up.”
It's tough to hear that he's not 100 percent healthy just yet, but after a stress fracture in his tibia limited him to just seven starts in 2023, it's good to hear that he's pain free on the mound. He's already thrown two bullpen sessions at spring training and has reported no issues.
Lodolo is a key piece of what the Reds are trying to accomplish in 2024. The former top prospect is working to earn a spot in the starting rotation for a team that is going to be one of the trendiest picks this year. Cincinnati finished third in the National League Central in 2023 but boasts one of the best young cores in all of baseball, especially on the position-player side.
On the mound, the Reds have a lot of injury concerns. Beyond Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft and Frankie Montas each missed significant time last season.
Lodolo is 6-8 lifetime with a 4.31 ERA. He went 2-1 in his limited 2023 action.
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