GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Díaz will open the season on the injured list because of left hamstring inflammation, manager Terry Francona announced Sunday, clouding the picture at the back end of the bullpen as the regular season approaches.
Right-hander D¨ªaz, an All-Star in 2023, never seemed to find his form after suffering a hamstring injury during pitchers¡¯ fielding practice early in Spring Training. He gave up five runs on six hits and five walks in four appearances in Arizona.
¡°He has some moving parts [in his delivery], but his lead leg is not where it needs to be,¡± Francona said. Allowing D¨ªaz to pitch at this point creates ¡°multiple concerns,¡± he added.
¡°That we¡¯re sending him out there, and he¡¯s either going to get hurt or he can¡¯t pitch the way he needs to,¡± Francona said. ¡°It¡¯s just not fair. So he¡¯s going to start on the IL, and we¡¯re going to give him a chance to get right. We have to be fair to him, because that role carries a lot of responsibility.¡±
D¨ªaz was fourth in the Major Leagues with 37 saves in 2023 and had a team-high 28 in 2024, although his ERA bumped to 3.99. He fought command issues this spring and never had a clean inning. He threw 20 pitches -- 10 balls and 10 strikes -- in his most recent outing Friday, and spent time with pitching coach Derek Johnson working on his delivery.
The Reds set no timetable for his return, and Francona said there is no hurry to name a closer.
¡°We want D¨ªaz to be that guy,¡± Francona said. ¡°I talked to the relievers. See how we get there [ninth inning], and we¡¯ll do it the best way we can.¡±
Newcomers Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers and former starter Graham Ashcraft appear to be the top candidates for the closing role.
Rogers has 83 career saves, including 30 with Minnesota in 2019 and 31 with the Twins and San Diego in 2022. Barlow has 58 career saves, including a career-high 24 with Kansas City in 2022. Ashcroft was moved to the bullpen this spring after spending the last three seasons in the rotation.
With D¨ªaz on the IL, non-roster right-hander Ian Gibaut is expected to be added as the final member of the 13-man pitching staff when Opening Day rosters are set Thursday.
Outfielders Stuart Fairchild, Blake Dunn and Jacob Hurtubise are competing for the final two roster spots on the position player side.
D¨ªaz is to accompany the team on the return to Cincinnati on Sunday night, and his recovery will be supervised by the Reds¡¯ pitching coaches and Dr. Franky Mulloy, their manager of biometrics.
¡°Sports science has been a big driver in this and we think it will continue to be,¡± Francona said.
¡°There are some things we have to work on. There are some things especially with that lead leg we have to fix. He¡¯ll be throwing. We want to keep his arm moving, but I would defer to the pitching guys and Franky on when a bullpen [session] would be.
¡°We want to put him in a position that when he does get on the mound, he can do it the way he does. Not the way he has morphed into because of that hamstring.¡±
D¨ªaz reported to camp in ¡°great shape,¡± Francona said, but by attempting to pitch around the injury, he wasn't the same.
¡°Good players, they try to figure out a way to do it,¡± Francona said. ¡°You respect that. But it got to a point where it is getting in the way. We showed it to him because we owe that to him, too.¡±