Cincinnati Reds: 3 players who benefit from injury-plagued roster

The Reds have lost several key players to injury this spring.

The Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster may look quite different from what you and I had predicted when spring training began. A rash of injuries has hit the team over the last week or so, and a few may impact who we see in a Reds’ uniform on April 1st. However, several players now have a new lease on life and may benefit from their hampered teammates’ absence.

It started with Joey Votto, who tested positive for COVID-19. There is no timetable for the former MVP’s return, but according to league policy, Votto will miss at least 10 days. He’s been placed on the injured list.

Yesterday, the news came down that Sonny Gray, last season’s Opening Day starter, is suffering from back spasms and will likely miss the first week of the season. According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Gray underwent an MRI on Saturday. Gray doesn’t seem overly concerned, but I’m sure Reds Country is holding their collective breath.

"“My back just keeps spasming. It just keeps spasming when I rotate and when I throw. Going through pitching and throwing is all fine. When I get on the mound and I really crank on it, it just kind of spasms up a little.”"

Tejay Antone left Sunday’s game with a groin injury, but last year’s rookie sounds confident that he’ll return for his next start. Fellow starting pitcher Wade Miley is currently out with a hamstring injury, as is last year’s free agent signing from Japan, Shogo Akiyama. Akiyama also missed time earlier in camp while tending to his injured wife back in Cincinnati.

Finally, we’ve yet to see Amir Garrett or Lucas Sims take the field this spring. Both relievers are working their way back from minor injuries. So, with all these injuries befalling the Cincinnati Reds this week, the team’s depth will be tested. Who’s most likely to benefit from all these players missing from the roster?