In the top of the first inning Nick Senzel raced into the right-center field gap and leapt at the wall to try and make a catch. He didn’t quite get to the ball, and worse, his cleat got caught in the wall for a second. After the play the trainer and manager David Bell came out to check on him and after some discussion, he remained in the game.
In the bottom of the first, Nick Senzel led the inning off with a walk. He ran the bases that inning. When the second inning of the game got going, though, Senzel didn’t take the field and was replaced in the lineup.
Later in the game it was announced that he has a sprained right ankle. It was the same ankle that he had sprained in spring training that kept him out of games for the first month of the season. However, manager David Bell noted after the game that the sprain was in a different part of the ankle than his previous injury.
If there’s ever a good time to have an injury that may not take long to recover from, right before the All-Star break is it. As Reds manager David Bell notes in the interview after the game, he is hoping to have Nick Senzel back when the break is over. Noting that “it’s not nearly as bad” as the one he had in the spring.
For Nick Senzel, his lone plate appearance on the day was a walk. He ends the first half of the season having played in 55 games for the Reds. He’s hitting .263/.325/.455 with 13 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs, and 8 steals at the break.
Doug, I owe you one on Senzel. I did not think he would have the impact he has. Just the “ Deamon” with him as always—health.
On the whole, this is fairly good news and fairly lucky timing. Senzel is going to be an increasingly important part of the Reds offense. There is potential for a very potent five bats right now – Senzel, Votto, Suarez, Puig, Winker/Ervin, and a decent sixth – Iglesias. If the Reds can figure out how to get productivity from 2B, whether that’s Gennett, JVM, or someone else, they could have a much stronger offense in the second half. But if 2B continues to be a bust and Senzel is lost that’s a whole different situation. It’s one thing if a player or two out of six or seven isn’t hitting but another entirely if there are only four or five good bats to begin with. Get well soon Nick.
Caught cleat sliding into second and messed up ankle. Caught cleat in wall padding and messed up ankle. Common threads are caught cleat and messed up ankle. Get rid of cleats that can catch in/on things.