Organizational Injury Report - 5/5/2014 Bruce Has Knee Surgery

It's not that injuries has ever been a joyous topic to cover, but it's just been too much lately.  This season has seemed to provide a constant barrage of gut punches, and then continue kicking us while we're down.  And this seems to be the story around MLB, too, not just with the Reds.  As has been reported in 4 or 5 different threads on RR already, Jay Bruce is having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss "3-4 weeks."  Also already discussed: even if he makes it back in that timeframe, there's no guarantee he will be the real Jay Bruce upon his return.  It took Joey Votto a year to start resembling himself again, and there is some debate as to whether he is still suffering some residual effects a year and a half on.

SP Tony Cingrani also hit the DL last week with shoulder tendinitis.  There is speculation that this was more of a precautionary, or limit-his-innings, kind of move than a serious injury, but Cingrani was showing reduced velocity (and effectiveness) over multiple starts prior to being officially sidelined.  I don't think it will hurt to have two weeks to rest, and think it is a good decision for the Reds on multiple levels, especially since a 5th starter won't be needed at all until after Cingrani is eligible to return.

On the positive side of the ledger, Skip Schumaker returned to action on May 3, basically right on schedule.  He had been sidelined since Spring Training with a dislocated left shoulder, and missed 6 weeks of action.  With Billy Hamilton currently banged up, it looks like Schumaker will immediately be thrust into significant playing time in the OF.  Whether he or Chris Heisey takes the brunt of playing time in RF remains to be seen.

In minor league news, at A- Dayton, RP Junior Morillo returned to action on April 29 after missing 19 days; 1B Sean Buckley was placed on the 7-day DL on April 29; and OF Sebastian Elizalde was placed on the 7-day DL on May 1.

Related to the Jay Bruce situation, potential roster replacement Donald Lutz (AA) has been dealing with a hamstring injury which has allowed him to play only part of one game in the last ten, according to Doug Gray.  According to Rosencrans, Lutz's hamstring is fine, but he is dealing with the flu.  Ryan LaMarre and Yorman Rodriguez are also on the DL in the minors, leaving Juan Duran the only minor league OF on the 40-man roster who is healthy (and Juan Duran will not be called up to the Reds).  A recall of Roger Bernadina seems likely, though the Reds would need to open a 40-man roster spot, since Bernadina was just DFAed to make room for Skip Schumaker.

Reds organizational injuries can be found via the link.