CES hits IL with hand fracture 1 1/2 weeks after HBP

CINCINNATI -- It turns out that Christian Encarnacion-Strand has a fractured hand after all.

The Reds first baseman was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and the club brought back veteran first baseman Mike Ford on a one-year, $1.3 million contract to take his place.

Encarnacion-Strand was hit on the right hand by a Michael Lorenzen pitch on April 27 at Texas and missed the next four games. However, an initial X-ray and follow-up MRI exam taken a couple of days later in San Diego revealed only there had been an old healed fracture in his hand and not a new one from being hit by a pitch.

Following Tuesday's game, Encarnacion-Strand’s fourth since the hit by pitch, a new X-ray revealed there was indeed a fracture on the inside of his hand by his wrist.

“It’s been tough," Encarnacion-Strand said. "I didn’t know there was a new fracture. We didn’t really know there was a new fracture. It wasn’t progressing the way I thought it would. It wasn’t getting better, so I mentioned it. It ended up being a new fracture.”

The Reds expected Encarnacion-Strand to miss four-to-six weeks.

Encarnacion-Strand, 24, was among several Reds hitters in a deep slump lately, batting .107 (3-for-28) over his last eight games. He is batting .190 with a .513 OPS and two home runs in 29 games.

“It wasn’t comfortable," said Encarnacion-Strand, who was wearing a cast over his right hand and forearm on Wednesday. "I wasn’t able to hold onto the bat. I feel like I wasn't able to be who I am as a hitter. Last night, that’s when I really realized that, ‘Hey, I’ve got to take a step back. I’m not helping the team by doing that,' so I went and got it checked again.”

Encarnacion-Strand is due to get a follow-up exam in about three weeks.

“Unfortunate on my part the fact he was even out there with that," Reds manager David Bell said. "I feel bad he was playing through that. He is very tough, and he was doing everything he could to play. I give him a lot of credit. He was clearly playing through a lot of pain and he didn’t let on, which is normal for players."

Ford, 31, was signed by Cincinnati for the third time in less than three months, this time to a Major League contract that also includes some bonus incentives.

Originally signed to a Minor League deal on Feb. 24 and invited to Spring Training, Ford was one of the final cuts after he batted .455 with three homers. Nick Martini won the role as a lefty bat off the bench and Ford was released, but he was re-signed to a new Minor League contract on March 29.

In his 24 games for Triple-A Louisville, Ford batted .297 with a .919 OPS and six homers. Without a big league callup, he invoked his opt-out clause on May 1 and was released on Saturday. Martini, another struggling hitter, was optioned to Louisville on Tuesday.

Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall contacted Ford at his home in New Jersey late Tuesday night.

“The plan for today was to go fishing with my dad," Ford said. "I think we’re both in the line of thinking that this is a better place to be. It’s great to be back. Hopefully, the third time's the charm on this one. I’m just happy to be here. This is where I wanted to be from the offseason.”

Jeimer Candelario started at first base on Wednesday and Ford was not in the starting lineup vs. the Diamondbacks. But he is expected to split his time at first base and designated hitter.

"I think we got lucky that he was still out there," Bell said of Ford. "I’m sure it was a matter of time before he landed somewhere else. We’re glad to have him here.”