The Cincinnati Reds big league team has been ravaged by injuries this season. Devin Mesoraco, Homer Bailey, Zack Cozart and Jon Moscot are all done for the season. Raisel Iglesias has spent a month on the disabled list, Marlon Byrd missed time with a broken bone and Tony Cingrani hasn’t pitched in two weeks. It’s been awful for the Reds.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the big league club that is having a run of injuries. The minor leagues are also seeing a lot of guys hitting the disabled list this season. Looking at my current Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospects List, there are six players on the disabled list (though the previously mentioned Raisel Iglesias and Jon Moscot are two of those players). Nick Travieso was hit by a batted ball in his last start and is now on the disabled list with a wrist contusion. Phillip Ervin was just placed on the disabled list yesterday after leaving the game early over the weekend. Aristides Aquino was hit by a pitch in the middle of April, leading to a broken bone in his arm and he just now began his rehab assignment with the Billings Mustangs. Jonathon Crawford has yet to pitch this season after being acquired in the Alfredo Simon trade. Top 40 prospect Cory Thompson injured his shoulder at the end of spring training and is still rehabbing in Arizona. Reliever Dan Langfield, also a top 40 prospect, has yet to pitch this season as he’s struggled with arm issues in 2015.
That just touches on the guys inside of the Top 40 that are currently on the disabled list. The Double-A and Triple-A rosters have eight other players on their disabled lists and that doesn’t count outfielder Juan Duran who is rehabbing in Arizona Rookie League games, but has yet to play in full-season ball this season.
For some reason the organization simply can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to the injury bug. I’ve seen or heard about seven different pitchers being hit by comebackers in the minor leagues this season alone. Steve Selsky went down with a knee injury just running the bases. It’s been a crazy year for injuries.
On the flip side of things, there is a great story out of Arizona right now. Back in 2012 the Cincinnati Reds drafted a left handed pitcher out of high school in the 5th round. That guy was Mason Felt and during the offseason in 2012 he was involved in a very serious car accident. That accident killed his father and left Mason in critical condition. At one point it was a good sign that he was able to move his toes when asked to move them. After years of recovering from his injuries, Felt finally made his professional debut last week when he took the mound for the Arizona League Reds.
The now 21-year-old took the mound on June 25th against the Dodgers Arizona Rookie League squad and tossed a shutout inning while allowing a hit and a walk. He left the game after one inning of work (hopefully by design). It wasn’t flashy and it didn’t last too long, but it’s great to see him battle all of the way back after all that he’s been through and throw off of the mound. Hopefully we can continue to follow him up the ladder over the next few years.