Reds infielder to be reevaluated after suffering elbow injury vs. Phillies

The Cincinnati Reds just can't catch a break this season. Already without suspended infielder Noelvi Marte and injured stars Matt McLain and TJ Friedl, the Reds saw another one of their starters go down with an injury during Wednesday night's series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Jeimer Candelario experienced some obvious discomfort during his at-bat in the eighth inning, but overcame whatever was ailing him and deposited a double into right field. Still in pain, however, Candelario exited the game between innings and was replaced by Santiago Espinal.

After the game, manager David Bell sounded optimistic about the injury, calling it a hyper-extended elbow. Bell said that the training staff wasn't overly concerned and that Candelario was removed from the game as a precaution. However, the Reds' biggest free agent signing of the offseason will be reevaluated when the team returns to Cincinnati later this week.

Reds manager David Bell is hopeful Jemier Candelario injury is nothing serious

Heading into the 2024 season, the one thing the Reds appeared to have an abundance of was infielders. Spencer Steer had to move to the outfield in order to make room for the influx of talent on the roster, and Jonathan India was mixed up in trade rumors all offseason.

But now, it would appear that adding another infielder might be in the cards. After McLain was ruled out following shoulder surgery, the Reds dipped into the trade market and swung a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays for Espinal.

The Reds minor leagues, after sending a lot of talent to the bigs in 2023, aren't ripe with infielders at the moment after the team's top prospect, Edwin Arroyo, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury earlier this offseason. The Reds are off to a hot-start, but their infielders are dropping like flies.

With Marte suspended, McLain on the injured list, and Jose Barrero now part of the Texas Rangers organization, the Reds can't afford to be without Candelario for very long. If the Reds training staff's initial diagnosis is correct and the injury is mild, Cincinnati has enough roster flexibility to weather the storm. But recent history is not on their side.

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