Jeimer Candelario Out For a Spell With Back Injury

On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Reds placed Infielder Jeimer Candelario on the 10-day injured list and recalled Tyler Callihan from AAA Louisville. Candelario hit the IL with a lumbar spine strain, but he has been struggling lately, so maybe this time away, however long it may be, will help him get a fresh restart.

Candelario Hits the IL

After being benched on Monday by Reds Manager Terry Francona, Candelario delivered the news on Tuesday morning that he was suffering from back pain. Upon further evaluation by the team and an MRI that night, the best course of action was to sideline their 31-year-old corner infielder. The Reds were hoping that Candelario could become a mainstay in the infield, offering up left-side help with elite shortstop Elly De La Cruz or being a brick wall at first. 

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who showed glimpses of real success in the last couple of years, is also on the IL, leaving the position open to the third option, Spencer Steer. Gavin Lux is expected to cover third in Candelario’s absence, but they also have the white-hot Noelvi Marte who can step in if needed. 

In 22 games this season, Candelario was batting .113 with a .411 OPS and only 2 home runs. It’s not readily apparent that this injury had anything to do with the rough start to the season, but it couldn’t have helped. The Reds are certainly going to miss the switch-hitter, even with a subpar bat. It is a little more stressful for the opposing team to strategize what side of the plate they want him on in any given situation.

Most of Candelario’s career success came during his stint with the Detroit Tigers from 2017-2022. His best season was in 2021 when he had 151 hits with a .271 AVG and led the National League in doubles with 42. He also saw great numbers in 2023, where he split time between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. He played 140 games between the two clubs, hitting a career-high 22 home runs with a .807 OPS.

What Are the Reds Going to Do?

The Reds are doing everything they can to prove that they are leaders in the National League Central. They have always been on the outside looking in with the Milwaukee Brewers leading the pack every year, but the Cubs had a huge offseason and find themselves at the top of the division. The Reds are currently tied for second with the Brewers at 16-15, with both teams only two games behind the Cubbies.