CINCINNATI – The Reds shall be with out second baseman Matt McLain for an prolonged interval after he had left shoulder surgical procedure on Tuesday.
It was not instantly recognized when McLain could be able to return.
“Yesterday, Matt McLain had profitable surgical procedure to handle cartilage harm and restore his labrum in his left shoulder,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall mentioned. “A precise timeline remains to be TBD because it has a variety of prospects. We hope to have Matt again this season.”
McLain, 24, was injured throughout a Spring Coaching exercise on March 18, saying he tried to make a diving catch. Though it was initially regarded as a minor harm, he went for a second opinion on Monday in Los Angeles with Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
It was ElAttrache who carried out the operation on McLain.
“Backside line, Matt has an extended profession forward of him,” supervisor David Bell mentioned. “He’s going to return again, and that’s the main focus. At any time when that’s, we’re all trying ahead to that. … Simply messaging backwards and forwards with him, he already has the correct outlook on this.”
A key rookie contributor throughout the Reds’ shock 82-win 2023 season, McLain batted .290 with an .864 OPS, 16 residence runs, 50 RBIs and 14 stolen bases over 89 video games.
“He’s an enormous a part of the group, and once I heard that, it was powerful. We are going to miss him, little question,” Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz mentioned.
The principle possibility Cincinnati has at second base is Jonathan India, who was the common at that place from 2021-23. Coming into camp, India had been set to tackle a utility place whereas McLain grew to become the common at second base. Santiago Espinal and Spencer Steer are additionally prospects there.
“Jonathan is already an on a regular basis participant for us, however he’s going to play extra second base now,” Bell mentioned. “That’s the place the depth is available in.”
Shortly after it grew to become clear McLain would miss greater than Opening Day, the Reds moved to amass Espinal from the Blue Jays for a Minor League pitcher.
The Reds are additionally dealing with different losses to their lineup, together with heart fielder and leadoff hitter TJ Friedl (fractured proper wrist) and third baseman Noelvi Marte, who acquired an 80-game suspension for testing constructive for a performance-enhancing drug.
“That is what being a group is all about,” Bell mentioned. “It’s a chance for different guys to step up and after we do get Matt again, in fact, he makes us a greater group. Within the meantime, we love what we now have right here and the gamers we now have to make up for that loss.”