Organizational Injury Report - 5/19 Cueto's Returning

There was no injury report last week, basically because nothing happened last week. This week was pretty much more of the same - a very healthy two week stretch for the Reds and the minor league affiliates. Injuries definitely fit the bill of no news is good news. And the main piece of news is also good news: Reds ace Johnny Cueto is set to return to the rotation May 20 against the Mets. That makes 36 days spent on the DL, or just about double the optimistic hope of missing 3-4 starts (score another point for BF's theory). The rotation actually didn't miss a beat in Cueto's absence, pitching to a 2.82 ERA over that month-plus. Tony Cingrani was the only starting pitcher with an ERA over 3.00 over the timeframe (at 3.27).

Ryan Hanigan returned to action on May 10, and has been a hit machine since, lending credence to the hope that his early season struggles were indeed due to a nagging thumb injury he'd been trying to play through. It looks now like the thumb and his oblique injury are healed, which is great news for the Reds offensively and defensively.

Chris Heisey aggravated his hamstring injury in a rehab game for Pensacola, making a diving play in the field, but it was not thought to be a major setback. He could return after the Mets series when the Reds return to Cincinnati on May 24.

In the minor leagues, Armando Galarraga returned to action for AAA Louisville on May 7. He had been sidelined with a foot injury sustained in his first start back after returning from a blister on his pitching hand. C Konrad Schmidt went on the 7-day DL on May 12 with a lower back strain. None of the other affiliates had any injury news over the past two weeks. Slowly but surely, the Reds roster is returning to full strength as it was envisioned in the preseason.