Nick Lodolo’s rehab work in Triple-A came with a box score that didn’t exactly sparkle, but the Reds left-hander still checked an important box in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Officially sent out on a rehab assignment this afternoon, Lodolo took the mound for the Louisville Bats against the Twins’ Triple-A club after throwing a live batting practice/simulated game to teammates last week, when he was also working on a new grip for his breaking ball. In this one, he went 4.1 innings, threw 65 pitches, allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, and struck out four.
The line looked ordinary. The context was a little different.
The game started with a tricky play in center field, where Dominic Pitelli was making the first outfield appearance of his career after spending his college and pro days at shortstop and second base. The first batter of the game hit a ground-rule double to center, with Pitelli taking several steps in before the ball landed on the warning track. It was the kind of play that likely would have been made by a natural outfielder, but it wasn’t caught, and that runner later scored on a groundball double play.
Lodolo’s toughest stretch came in the fifth. He got the first out, then issued a walk and gave up a single before the last batter he faced drove a two-run double into the left-field corner.
There were some encouraging details underneath the final line. Lodolo threw his breaking ball 15 times, and eight of them went for strikes.
Batters offered at it only twice, missing once and grounding out the other time. Of the outs he collected, six came on the ground and two in the air.
Three of the hits against him were grounders, including an infield hit that never reached the dirt.
Elsewhere, Reds manager Terry Francona told Fox 19’s Charlie Goldsmith that outfielder Blake Dunn had elbow surgery. Francona said Dunn had an internal brace procedure, which is similar to but not quite the same thing as Tommy John surgery.
Both are done with the same goal: to repair a torn UCL in the elbow. Francona added that the recovery time should be about six months, which would put Dunn on a timeline to be ready for spring training in 2027.
In Other News...
Reds Just Took A Bullpen Flier Worth Watching Down The Stretch
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For the Reds, it is the kind of bullpen flier that fits this part of the calendar, especially with roster churn picking up across the league. Solesky now gets a new opportunity in Cincinnati, while Craig Kimbrel, the other reliever Tampa Bay moved on from, cleared waivers and chose free agency as he looks for another landing spot after bouncing among several clubs in recent seasons. [Read more 🡒]
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Hunter Greenes move to the 15-day injured list with right elbow soreness only sharpened the focus on the arms the Reds can still lean on. With Greene likely finished for the season and the staff already stretched by injuries, the additions give Cincinnati a little more depth on paper, but they also underline how thin the margin has become as the club tries to cover innings and keep the roster moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Make Pitching Moves As Another Injury Clouds Second Half
The Reds kept their bullpen mix in motion by adding two right-handed pitchers off waivers, bringing in Ron Marinaccio from the Pirates and Chase Solesky from the Rays. Marinaccio gives Cincinnati another arm it can potentially plug into the active roster soon, while Solesky was sent to Triple-A Louisville for now as the club continues sorting through pitching options for the stretch run.
To make room, Cincinnati shifted outfielder Blake Dunn to the 60-day injured list after internal brace surgery on his right elbow. It is another reminder of how thin the margin can be in the second half, especially for a Reds team trying to piece together depth while dealing with injuries and still searching for stability on the roster. [Read more 🡒]