Reds' Matt McLain: Starting in center field in AFL
Rotowire
McLain is starting in center field Tuesday for the Glendale Desert Dogs during Arizona Fall League play, Doug Gray of RedlegNation.com reports.
McLain has played only second base and shortstop in pro ball, and his first five starts in the AFL came at second base. However, the outfield isn't totally foreign to the 25-year-old, as center field was his primary position in his freshman season at UCLA and he also saw some action in the corner outfield spots during college summer ball. Whether the Reds will consider using McLain in the outfield some in 2025 isn't clear, but the versatility can't hurt, especially with the club having other middle-infield options. McLain missed the entire 2024 campaign following shoulder surgery and a subsequent stress reaction in his ribcage, but he's expected to enter spring training healthy.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Reinstated from 60-day injured list
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The Reds activated McLain (shoulder/rib) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
It's a paper move reinstating McLain to the 40-man roster, as the infielder's rehab assignment in the Arizona Fall League has technically expired. McLain missed the entire 2024 season following shoulder surgery and later a stress reaction in his rib cage, but he will enter spring training at 100 percent, barring another setback.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Will play in instructional league
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McLain (shoulder/rib) will play in instructional league games this fall, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain has missed the entire 2024 campaign following shoulder surgery and later a stress reaction in his rib cage, so he will get into some game action this fall to make up for lost time. Barring any setbacks, he should enter spring training with a clean bill of health.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Not expected back in 2024
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McLain (shoulder/rib) is unlikely to return before the end of the season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Manager David Bell noted Friday that McLain has started swinging a bat again, but there simply aren't enough games left on the schedule for him to realistically rejoin the Reds. The 25-year-old infielder has been held out of action all season while recovering from shoulder surgery and a stress reaction in his rib cage, and it now seems he'll turn his focus to getting ready for spring training.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Still undergoing tests
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that McLain (shoulder/rib) is still undergoing tests to determine the cause of the pain in his side, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain encountered a roadblock in his recovery from left shoulder surgery when he went down with a stress reaction in his rib cage earlier this month. He had resumed baseball activities but evidently at some point was shut down again. Bell noted that the testing McLain is going through is nearly finished and the infielder could resume swinging a bat again soon. There could still be time for McLain to make it back before the end of the season, but he can't afford any more setbacks.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Scratched from rehab assignment
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell told reporters Friday that McLain (shoulder/rib) will not begin his rehab assignment that was scheduled for Monday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
McLain has been on the 60-day injured list since the start of the season while recovering from offseason surgery on his left shoulder. He was cleared for baseball activities in early July and was progressing toward a rehab stint, but the 25-year-old infielder experienced a setback when he suffered a stress reaction in his rib cage. It's unclear whether the setback will simply delay McLain's rehab assignment or keep the 2021 first-round pick out of action for the rest of the year.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Suffers rib cage stress reaction
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Friday that McLain (shoulder) recently suffered a stress reaction in his rib cage, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain had been hoping to begin a rehab assignment Aug. 12 and Bell added Friday that it's possible that happens. The young infielder has been working his way back from left shoulder surgery, which he had back in late March. McLain is hoping to rejoin the Reds at some point before the end of the season.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Aims for Aug. 12 rehab assignment
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that McLain (shoulder) has started swinging a bat and is hoping to begin a rehab assignment Aug. 12, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Certainly, McLain will need to check off numerous boxes before he's cleared for game action, but he's trending well in his recovery from left shoulder surgery, which he had in late March. Given the long layoff, McLain will need an extended rehab assignment before returning from the 60-day injured list, possibly in late August or early September.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Moves to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds transferred McLain (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
A move to the 60-day IL was expected for McLain, who figures to miss the first half of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery Tuesday. He will temporarily give up his 40-man roster spot, which will be given to Yosver Zulueta, who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays on Thursday.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Undergoes shoulder surgery
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McLain underwent surgery Tuesday to repair cartilage damage and the labrum in his left shoulder, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said that while the team hopes to get McLain back at some point this season, the timetable for this type of surgery has a wide range of possibilities. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues that had stashed McLain with the hope of a quick return from the injured list probably shouldn't be counting on him being a major contributor this season and may be better off using his roster spot elsewhere. With McLain out indefinitely, Jonathan India is once again poised to be Cincinnati's regular second baseman.
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Reds' Matt McLain: IL stint, surgery possible
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that "all of the options are on the table," including surgery, after McLain (shoulder) underwent an MRI on Wednesday. Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The specifics of the injury remain unclear as the full results of the MRI haven't been disclosed, but it's a concerning development after Bell initially downplayed the left shoulder soreness that scratched McLain from Monday's lineup. The 24-year-old's availability to begin the season is now up in the air, with a trip to the injured list being a distinct possibility, regardless of whether he requires surgery. McLain's status should be updated soon as he continues to be evaluated.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Making spring debut Sunday
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McClain (oblique) is starting at second base and batting third in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.
McClain suffered an oblique strain early in camp but is now ready to make his spring debut. The 24-year-old has plenty of time to ramp up his workload ahead of Opening Day, as he's poised to serve as Cincinnati's primary second baseman after he posted an .864 OPS in 89 games as a rookie in 2023.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Cactus debut could come this week
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Monday that McLain (oblique) has resumed regular workouts with the team and could make his Cactus League debut this week, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain has been brought along slowly this spring after feeling some renewed soreness in the same right oblique area which ended his 2023 season. He's made nice progress of late, though, and his return to game action appears imminent. There are enough days on the calendar for McLain to ramp up ahead of Opening Day, but he certainly can't afford another setback. McLain is slated to be the Reds' primary second baseman in 2024.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Live at-bats expected by mid-week
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that McLain (oblique) took 70 swings Friday and is slated to take live at-bats around Wednesday of the upcoming week, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain no longer feels soreness in his right oblique area after being slowed since the beginning of camp. If he can get through live batting practice mid-week, his Cactus League debut might not be far behind. McLain has time to ramp up for Opening Day, but he can't afford any more bumps in the road.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Takes grounders
Rotowire
McLain (oblique) took groundballs Thursday after passing a series of tests that showed he's no longer dealing with the soreness issue, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
The update also mentions McLain was scheduled for light swinging, but there were no details provided. The plan calls for the infielder to work with a mobility coach to become more flexible in his core. To this point, all updates on McLain's condition have been positive and suggest he'll be ready for Opening Day.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Projected keystone starter
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McLain is expected to be the Reds' primary second baseman when the season starts, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
McLain played mostly at shortstop in 2023 but made 34 starts at second base, mostly as a replacement when Jonathan India (foot) was sidelined. McLain is considered a plus defender at both middle infield positions. The move to second appears likely, as the club revealed its plans to have Elly De La Cruz focus mostly on shortstop -- he had also played third base last season. As for India, who was the primary second baseman last season, he'll add first and third base to his resume and possibly left field.
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Reds' Matt McLain: No lingering issues with oblique
Rotowire
McLain said Thursday that his late-season right oblique strain is fully healed, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
McLain landed on the injured list Aug. 28 after straining his right oblique and then suffered a setback just as he was about to return to the Reds in late September. He began light workouts in late October, however, and is now back to full strength here at the end of November. "Things are going good," said the 2023 breakout infielder. "I started to swing, no problems. Lifting, no problems."
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Reds' Matt McLain: Rehabbing in Arizona
Rotowire
McLain (oblique) has begun rehab work at the Reds' spring training complex in Arizona, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
McLain wound up missing the final month-plus of the season with an oblique injury, which he aggravated in late September. He's on the mend now, though, and should be healed up well ahead of spring training. McLain is in line to hold down a starting spot in the Reds' infield in 2024, with the position yet to be determined.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Not activated Tuesday
Rotowire
McLain (oblique) will not be activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's game at Cleveland, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McLain apparently needs at least one more day to recover from the right oblique strain that sent him to the IL in late August. The 24-year-old infielder spent the weekend on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville and went 1-for-6 with a single, a walk and three strikeouts. He played shortstop for Louisville on Saturday and then moved to second base Sunday.
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Reds' Matt McLain: In Triple-A for rehab assignment
Rotowire
McLain (oblique) was sent to Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment Saturday.
McLain remains on track to be activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. The infielder had resumed taking batting practice earlier in the week as he nears the end of his recovery from a right oblique strain.
