TORONTO – The Cincinnati Reds faced another setback on Tuesday as corner infielder Jeimer Candelario was placed on the injured list due to a broken left big toe.
Candelario sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch during Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. He played in Monday night’s game in Toronto, but an in-game x-ray revealed the fracture, resulting in his placement on the IL.
“It’s tough. It’s really hard not to be in the lineup every day,” Candelario remarked after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Reds’ 6-3 win over the Blue Jays. “But it’s part of baseball and life. It could be worse. I want to focus on coming back this season. I believe we have a strong chance.”
Candelario expressed surprise at the severity of the injury, stating he had not been informed about the typical recovery time and was uncertain about what to expect.
Manager David Bell noted that the team does not have a specific timeline for Candelario’s return.
With only 37 games remaining in the season, it seems unlikely that the veteran switch-hitter will be able to return from the IL before the season concludes.
If he doesn’t return, Jeimer Candelario will wrap up his first season with the Reds with a batting average of .225, 20 home runs, 23 doubles, and a .707 OPS across 112 games. The 30-year-old signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Reds last winter, marking the team’s largest free agent acquisition in four years.
“It’s been a rollercoaster season, but as I always say, we never give up,” he stated. “We have a really good chance.”
When asked about his own ups and downs, he replied, “Actually, me too.”
Candelario struggled early in the season, hitting just .159 with two home runs in the first four weeks. However, he rebounded to hit .295 with 12 home runs over the next 45 games, boasting the fourth-best slugging percentage (.584) in the majors during that period.
His placement on the injured list opened up a roster spot for infielder Amed Rosario, who was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers over the weekend and joined the team in Toronto on Monday.
Rosario, 28, expressed his excitement about being claimed by the Reds, noting, “They have a lot of young players with great talent.”
The veteran middle infielder compared his new opportunity to his time with one of his previous teams, saying, “They’re kind of similar to Tampa Bay. Guys play different positions, so I see a lot of opportunity here.”
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