CES, Williamson evaluating surgery to treat injuries

CINCINNATI -- Two injured Reds players, first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and pitcher Brandon Williamson, are currently evaluating different options of treatment that could include season-ending surgeries.

Encarnacion-Strand, who has been on the injured list since May 8 with a fracture of his right hand, was advised Saturday to rest it an additional five days by a hand specialist. Manager David Bell revealed on Tuesday that the issue goes beyond a simple fracture.

“There has been some ligament damage all along. That’s the issue,” Bell said. “There’s a chance he plays and never has to have surgery. There’s also a chance he could play and then have surgery at the end of the season.”

Recovery from the hand surgery would be three months.

Encarnacion-Strand was hit on the right hand by a Michael Lorenzen pitch on April 27 at Texas and missed the next four games. After initial tests only revealed an old and healed fracture, he resumed playing. When discomfort persisted as he also struggled to hit, a new X-ray revealed a fresh fracture on the inside of his hand by his wrist and he was placed on the 10-day injured list.

Williamson, who has been out with a left shoulder strain since Spring Training and is on the 60-day IL, had his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville stopped on June 6 as he continued to feel discomfort despite pitching well. He was told to shut down from throwing for at least seven days.

Williamson then saw a shoulder specialist in Arizona. Tests revealed a Bennett lesion in his shoulder -- or a mineralization of a posterior ligament -- had been causing his recent soreness. Surgery to repair the injury is possible, but that would keep the left-hander out until 2025.

There is no routine rehabilitation from shoulder surgery in baseball, so it's expected that Williamson will explore all of his options.

“We think there’s a possibility that he could avoid that and get back pitching this season and even get back here," Bell said. "We haven’t gotten to the bottom of that.”