The Reds just tweeted:
Corcino starting tonight instead of Latos (bone bruise, right elbow). Schumaker has successful surgery (torn labrum, left shoulder).
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 12, 2014
I hadn’t seen any reports that Skip Schumaker was injured. Without knowing any details, labrum surgery is serious. Reds infielder Jack Hannahan tore his labrum and played injured throughout the 2013 season. He had off-season surgery and didn’t play for the Reds until July 27. Now, nearly a year later, he still can’t make the throw from third base to first.
Schumaker dislocated his left shoulder in spring training and missed over four weeks of the season. This surgery could easily call into question his ability to start the 2015 season on Opening Day. Schumaker has struggled through a difficult season (.235/.287/.308) with the Reds. He was signed as a free agent to a 2-year contract last off season at $5 million/2 years. Will we learn that Schumaker has been playing hurt all year, possibly explaining his poor season at the plate?
Daniel Corcino will make his first major league start tonight. He’s appeared twice as a reliever, pitching 2.2 innings. He pitched a clean inning against the Cubs, with two strikeouts, on August 26 (his 24th birthday). Then on September 5, in mop-up duty against the Mets, he faced 11 batters, recording five outs, giving up four hits (two home runs) a walk and a HBP.
Mat Latos missed a chance to start the play-in game in Pittsburgh last fall because of a “sore elbow” and ten days later had surgery to remove bone chips that had caused the pain. Latos entered spring training healthy and recovered from the surgery. Right away in spring training, Latos suffered a knee injury that required surgery to repair his meniscus.
When Latos was throwing a rehab start in early April after the knee surgery, he felt a pain in his elbow and was diagnosed with a mild strain of his right flexor mass muscle. The Reds had him sit out for more than two months. His first start for the Reds was on June 14.
Flexor muscle injuries can be mild, moderate or severe. Moderate or severe cases, like those suffered recently by Homer Bailey and last year by Jonathan Broxton, require surgery and six months of recovery. You can learn about that in this recent article about Bailey. We’ll have to watch to see if Latos is headed for a similar surgery.
MIke Maffie wrote about Latos’ 2014 season last Friday.
Check back here for updates.