Cincinnati first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand will undergo right hand surgery next month, manager David Bell said before the Reds’ Tuesday night game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bell said Encarnacion-Strand also would have ligaments repaired in his fractured right wrist on July 11. The recovery timeline is expected to be three months.
If that proves true, Encarnacion-Strand would miss the rest of the regular season. Cincinnati would have to make the postseason for him to have a chance to play again in 2024.
The ligament damage was detected when Encarnacion-Strand visited a hand specialist in Arizona.
Encarnacion-Strand, 24, was initially hurt on April 27 when struck on the wrist by a pitch thrown by the Texas Rangers’ Michael Lorenzen. He missed four games and then returned to play in four contests before being placed on the 10-day injured list on May 8. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 17.
Encarnacion-Strand is batting .190 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 29 games this season, his second year with the Reds.
–Field Level Media
