The Cincinnati Reds are now facing another player getting hit by a pitch and going on the injured list. It’s turning into a theme around the Reds clubhouse this season. To make matters worse, they not only dealt with one but two injuries on Tuesday evening. David Bell, the Reds manager, was fuming after Jake Fraley became the latest Reds player to be hit by a pitch against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday evening. Fraley left before the start of the second inning of the game. The Reds right fielder was upset as he went into the clubhouse. Bell also expressed his frustrations on a piece of furniture in the dugout.
Jake Fraley the Latest Red to be Hit by Pitch
Video of #Reds David Bell extremely upset after losing another player to a HBP – the frustrations finally settling in for the ole Skipper of the Reds. pic.twitter.com/tFeSMPmYPs
— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) May 21, 2024
Fraley is the most recent in an unfortunate string of Reds players to be hit by a pitch. TJ Friedl, Tyler Stephenson, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand have all been hit this season. All three players are spending time recovering, with Friedl and Encarnacion-Strand currently on the IL following their hit-by-pitch. In addition to the players who are currently on the IL, Cincinnati has had Matt McLain on the IL from the start of the 2024 season.
Noelvi Marte has also been absent from the lineup. His situation is different as it has nothing to do with an injury. Marte is serving an 80-game suspension for PED use. As if things couldn’t get worse for the Reds, later on in the second inning on Tuesday evening, while trying to score on a play from third base, second baseman Jonathan India was accidentally injured when Padres catcher Luis Campusano stepped on him. India was not able to continue and left the field limping.
Bad News Reds
This Reds team has been negatively affected by injuries this season, and it’s starting to weigh down on the clubhouse. Whether Fraley misses any time and/or goes on the IL remains to be seen. It has evidently caused frustrations to boil over in the Reds dugout. It would be difficult for any manager not to show strong emotions when dealing with all these injuries. Sometimes, it really just is bad luck and timing. But now, the Reds cannot afford to lose any more players, particularly Elly De La Cruz, who is now on pace to reach 100 stolen bases.
Photo Credit: © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
