The Cincinnati Reds got to work early on Sunday, announcing that they were sending right-handed pitchers Lucas Sims and Luke Weaver on rehab assignments. Both players will be joining the Triple-A Louisville Bats today for their 1:05pm ET home game against Indianapolis.
Lucas Sims missed much of the 2022 season after having back problems that eventually led to surgery. He returned this spring and was on target to begin the season with the big league club, but towards the end of spring training he began to have back spasms. The team says that they were unrelated to his back injury and surgery last year. Those back spasms did shut him down from throwing for a bit of time, though, and it meant he would begin the season on the injured list. His spring training stats left plenty to be desired as he posted an ERA of 18.00 and allowed 11 hits, two homers, hit a batter, and walked three in 5.0 innings. He did strike out seven of the 30 hitters he faced.
Luke Weaver signed with Cincinnati in January. After posting a 6.56 ERA in the bullpen in 2022 for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals in 35.2 innings, the Reds brought him in to compete for the 4th and 5th starter spots. Last season was his only season pitching out of the bullpen since reaching the big leagues in 2016. He made three starts in spring training with the big league club, posting an ERA of 11.12 and giving up nine hits, two home runs, and a walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out six of the 27 hitters he faced. Sims is expected to pitch an inning in today’s Bats game.
In the middle of the month of March he headed to the minor league side of camp to make a start – he was still in big league camp but needed to get some work in – and left the start early after experiencing some elbow tightness. He was later diagnosed with a flexor mass strain. Weaver didn’t pitch again in spring training, at least as far as games go, but did begin throwing on the side about a week later. He’s expected to throw 4.0 innings in today’s Bats game.
Pitchers can spend up to 30 days on a rehab assignment.
Based on those stats these two should be busting down the door to be called up at the end of their rehabs. Geez…
It would be nice to have a healthy Sims back.