The Cincinnati Reds are back in survival mode on the roster front.
Two days after Spencer Steer announced he would miss the rest of the season, the club placed infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia on the injured list with a right shoulder dislocation, retroactive to August 22. In the move that followed, Cincinnati recalled infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville.
Toglia’s injury came in Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks, when his shoulder stayed out of place until it was eventually put back in. X-rays were negative, and manager Terry Francona said there is at least some hope the damage may not be as severe as it first looked.
“They put it back in, and there’s some thought that he might be OK,” Francona told MLB.com’s Patrick Brown. “It seems hard to imagine, but they can’t get an MRI tomorrow like they need to, so it’s going to be kind of on how he feels.”
It was a frightening scene in the moment. Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley said it reminded him of the injuries Matt McLain and Edwin Arroyo suffered, the kind that cost them an entire season.
Toglia’s own update after the game offered a little more encouragement.
“It’s definitely pretty sore from being out of place, but I’m not in any pain right now, and the gentle range of motion looked fantastic,” Toglia said. “The whole time walking off the field it was out, and that was pretty painful. I definitely couldn’t move my arm.”
For now, Johnson gets the call and joins the active roster while Cincinnati waits for more clarity on Toglia.
Johnson has appeared in 12 games for the Reds this season and has gone 1-for-12 with two walks, six strikeouts, and two stolen bases. What he does bring is defensive flexibility. This year, he has played left field, second base, third base, and center field.
He probably won’t be penciled in for everyday at-bats, but Johnson gives Francona another bench piece who can move around the diamond and provide speed late in games.
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