Reds Beat: The Hits Keep Coming For Jonathan India, Another Surgery For Tejay Antone

CINCINNATI — The stars and moon indeed did align before Monday’s game to produce a bizarre and odd series of events as the Reds prepared to open their four-game series at Great American Ball Park against NL Central rival Milwaukee.

Players and staff took time out during their scheduled batting practice session to put on their protective glasses and look skyward over the first base side of the stadium and witness a celestial rarity.

At 3:09 p.m. ET, the moon blocked the sun, providing a total eclipse that turned daylight into several minutes of night baseball (batting practice).

Unfortunately, there was a strange twist that followed. As the sun became more prominent after the total eclipse, Nick Martini hit a line drive that caught Jonathan India on the left leg. He went down in a heap and let out a yell. He was tended to by trainer Tomas Vera and hobbled to the dugout.

After receiving treatment, he returned to take batting practice and run the bases before being scratched as precaution with a left leg contusion. Stuart Fairchild took his spot at the top of the order and played right, Bubba Thompson got his second straight start in center while Will Benson moved from center to DH and rocketed his first career homer off a lefty to right in the second, putting the Reds up, 2-0.

After what happened to India in the Field of Dreams Game in Aug. 2022, the caution was totally understandable. That was the game when India was hit on the same leg (in the calf) by a Drew Smyly pitch.

He had to be rushed to the hospital to ensure proper treatment so that doctors could make sure the calf wasn’t in danger of severe damage, or worse.

Monday’s mishap was just the latest for India. On Sunday, he was plunked by an 88-mph cutter on the outside of his left hand. He went down in a heap and was tended to by Vera. He remained in the game as the DH.

Another surgery for Antone:

As was feared when he left Sunday’s game after one pitch in the top of the sixth, Tejay Antone will require surgery after a tendon in his right elbow tore from the bone and ligament partially tore.

Dr. Tim Kremchek will perform the surgery on Friday.

The term Tommy John was not used Monday by David Bell in describing the injury. Antone has already been through the dreaded procedure twice, once in 2017 in the minors and again in 2021 when he left a game in obvious discomfort. He missed all of 2022 before returning in 2023, only to have his season end prematurely in September after a forearm strain.

Lodolo return set for Saturday:

After two minor league rehab starts, Bell confirmed Monday that lefty Nick Lodolo will return to the Cincinnati rotation this Saturday in Chicago against the White Sox. Lodolo only went 2 2/3 innings Sunday in a start for Triple-A Louisville at Gwinnett. He allowed four earned runs on five hits, hit two batters and struck out two. He threw 64 pitches, 36 of which came in his third and final inning of work.

Lodolo’s return means the Reds will stick with six starters at least for one turn through the rotation. Graham Ashcraft’s Monday’s start will be followed by Frankie Montas on Tuesday, Hunter Greene on Wednesday and Nick Martinez on Thursday. Friday is officially TBD but could easily turn into an Andrew Abbott assignment, as he would be on regular rest.

Spiers recalled:

With Antone on the injured list, right-hander Carson Spiers steps into the void in the bullpen. Spiers was arguably the most effective pitcher for the Reds in Spring Training, appearing in three games, one start, striking out 11 and walking one in 8 2/3 innings. He allowed 10 hits and three runs – two earned.

Spiers offered the Reds valuable versatility in 2023, making two spot starts and two relief appearances, including one save. Spiers is an option for Friday in Chicago if the Reds choose to go that route. With lots of rain in the forecast this week and the potential for a jumbled up schedule, Spiers also offers Bell more versatility in the pen.

Steer NL Player of the Week:

No one has enjoyed a better offensive start to the season for the Reds than Spencer Steer. The left fielder has won two games with home runs in huge situations. On Monday in Philadelphia, he belted a 10th inning grand slam in a 6-3 win over the Phillies. On Saturday, he belted a 3-run shot in the eighth that helped the Reds rally from 5-2 down to beat the Mets, 9-6.

On Monday, he was recognized as National League Player of the Week. Here’s why:

The 26-year-old hit .409 (9-for-22) with three home runs, nine RBI, a double, a triple, three walks, five runs scored, and a stolen base in six games last week.

The California native led the Majors in slugging percentage (.955) and total bases (21); tied for the Major League lead with three home runs; ranked second in the Majors in OPS (1.455); ranked second in the NL in RBI; ranked third in OBP (.500); and tied for third in extra-base hits (5).

The University of Oregon product slugged his first career grand slam in the 10th inning on Monday at Philadelphia. It was the Reds’ first extra-inning grand slam since Todd Frazier’s on June 17, 2015 and was the first of three go-ahead homers last week for Steer.

The outfielder continued his tear with homers in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against the Mets, marking the fourth time in his career that he homered in two straight games. His Friday night home run came in the first inning to give the Reds a 1-0 lead and his three-run blast on Saturday highlighted the Reds’ five-run eighth inning in a comeback victory.

After finishing sixth in Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, Steer is off to a blistering start in 2024, reaching safely in eight of his nine games so far and slashing .400/.500/.813 with a team-high 12 RBI.

Overall, Steer recorded hits in five of his six games last week with multiple hits in three of the contests.