Matt McLain, the talented second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, underwent surgery on his left shoulder, resulting in an extended period of sideline recovery.
Nick Krall, the Reds’ president of baseball operations, disclosed that the surgical procedure aimed to address cartilage damage and repair the labrum. The operation, which occurred on Tuesday, leaves McLain’s return timeline uncertain, with various possibilities under consideration.
Krall expressed hope for McLain’s return within the current season but emphasized that the exact duration of his absence remains to be determined. McLain, aged 24, sustained the injury during a spring training workout on March 18, following his last game appearance on March 17.
The setback comes at a challenging time for the Reds, who recently acquired infielder Santiago Espinal from the Toronto Blue Jays. McLain’s absence adds to the team’s roster woes, compounded by the 80-game suspension of third baseman Noelvi Marte due to a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance, as well as center fielder T.J. Friedl nursing a broken right wrist.
McLain’s impact on the team was significant, with impressive statistics from the previous season, where he boasted a batting average of .290 alongside 16 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. His stellar performance earned him recognition, finishing fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
As the Reds gear up to face the Washington Nationals on Thursday, they’ll have to navigate through these challenges without key players, hoping for McLain’s swift recovery to bolster their lineup once again.
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