The Reds placed infielder/outfielder Nick Senzel and left-hander Wade Miley on the 10-day injured list, the team announced. Senzel is dealing with left knee inflammation, while Miley has a left foot sprain. In other moves, Cincinnati also designated right-hander Carson Fulmer for assignment, selected the contract of right-hander Brad Brach, and called up outfielder Scott Heineman and righty Ashton Goudeau.
Senzel has missed the last three games with the knee issue, and he’ll now make what has unfortunately become a rather familiar trip to the injured list. The 25-year-old has been set back by a wide variety of health problems in his young career, ranging from shoulder surgery to injuries to his ankle, groin and finger, as well an illness-related absence last season and multiple bouts of vertigo. The second overall pick of the 2016 draft, Senzel has yet to really capitalize on his potential due to all these injuries, with a modest .246/.308/.396 slash line over his first 616 plate appearances in the majors.
Miley left his most recent start after 4 2/3 innings due to his foot injury. An MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage, so it’s possible Miley could return after just the minimum 10 days and perhaps miss only one start thanks to a Reds off-day on May 24. The veteran southpaw has a 3.50 ERA/3.72 SIERA over 43 2/3 innings this season, succeeding despite a below-average strikeout rate by limiting hard contact. Miley’s year, of course, was highlighted by his no-hitter against the Indians on May 7.
Brach signed a minors contract with Cincinnati earlier this month, after he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in April. The 35-year-old has already been a member of three different organizations in 2021, after being released by the Mets in February. Brach’s first appearance for the Reds will officially put him on the books for his 11th major league season, but he struggled over 66 2/3 innings with the Cubs and Mets in 2019-20.
Fulmer has been well-traveled himself over the last year, as he has been claimed five times off the DFA wire since July 2020. Beginning with the White Sox, Fulmer’s sojourn included stints with the Tigers, Orioles and two different stops with the Pirates before landing with the Reds in March. The results haven’t been good for Fulmer in Cincinnati, however, as he posted a 6.66 ERA over 25 2/3 frames out of the Reds bullpen. It’s probably fair to assume that Fulmer’s time with the Reds could be nearing an end, given his past popularity on the waiver wire.
Goudeau can even top Fulmer’s mark, as Goudeau has been a part of six different waiver claims and six different organizations since November. After making his MLB debut with 8 1/3 innings for the Rockies in 2020, Goudeau now looks to be in line to make his first major league appearance of 2021 after his many trips through DFA limbo.
More must-reads: