The Reds designated Thompson for assignment Thursday.
Since the end of the 2023 season, Thompson has now been DFA'd on four occasions; twice by the Reds, and one apiece by the Yankees and Twins. Thompson won a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster and hit .111 over 18 at-bats in 17 games before he was sent to Double-A Chattanooga on May 7. The 25-year-old outfielder had posted a .557 OPS in nine games since reporting to Chattanooga and was deemed expendable from the 40-man roster with the Reds opting to clear a spot for right-hander Brett Kennedy, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Brett Kennedy: Summoned to big leagues
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The Reds selected Kennedy's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
Kennedy has operated as a full-time starter at Louisville this season, compiling a 6.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 40.2 innings. Though he made two starts with Cincinnati in 2023, the Reds don't have an opening in the rotation at the moment, so Kennedy is slated to operate as a multi-inning option or mop-up man out of the bullpen. The Reds created room for Kennedy on the active roster by placing right-hander Emilio Pagan (triceps) on the 15-day injured list.
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Reds' Jake Fraley: Plans to test out hand with swings
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Fraley plans to test out his injured right hand with some swings Thursday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
X-rays on Fraley's hand came back clean after he exited Tuesday's contest versus the Padres following a hit by pitch. However, he still has some swelling and will be absent from the lineup Thursday for a second straight day. Consider the outfielder day-to-day.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Goes on IL with triceps injury
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The Reds placed Pagan on the 15-day injured list prior to Thursday's game against the Padres due to right triceps tightness.
Pagan hadn't pitched since Sunday due to the injury, and though an MRI on his arm recently came back negative, the right-hander apparently didn't respond well to playing catch Tuesday. He'll be shut down for the next two weeks while recovering from the injury, depriving the Reds of one of their middle-relief options in front of closer Alexis Diaz.
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Reds' Connor Overton: Rehabbing in Arizona
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Overton (elbow) began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 14 and has allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out three across three innings over three rehab appearances.
Overton is building his way back up from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, which he underwent May 23, 2023. The 30-year-old was outrighted off the 40-man roster in October but rejoined the Reds on a minor-league deal shortly thereafter and will eventually settle in as a member of Triple-A Louisville's pitching staff once he completes his rehab assignment and is activated from the 7-day injured list. Overton had operated as a starter last season prior to having surgery, but since he's made three one-inning appearances thus far on his rehab assignment, he could be ticketed for a bullpen role upon joining Louisville.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Reaches fourth inning in rehab start
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Williamson (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Louisville.
Sunday's outing was Williamson's first with Louisville but the second overall of his rehab assignment, which he began with High-A Dayton on May 14. Williamson, who has been on the shelf all season with a left shoulder strain, is eligible for activation next week, but he'll likely need at least another rehab start or two to get fully stretched out for a traditional starting role. With Nick Lodolo (groin) tentatively in line to return from the 15-day injured list Monday to bring the Cincinnati rotation back to full strength, Williamson may have to settle for a bullpen role once activated, if the Reds don't elect to option him to Louisville to remain on a starter's schedule.
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Reds' Nick Martinez: Falls to Friars
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Martinez (1-3) took the loss Wednesday as the Reds were downed 7-3 by the Padres, coughing up five runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.
Making his fifth start of the season, Martinez served up a leadoff homer to Luis Arraez that proved to be a bad omen for the rest of the game as he lasted only 66 pitches (40 strikes) before getting the hook. The right-hander has been volatile in a swingman role for Cincy, posting a 4.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB through 43 innings, but with Nick Lodolo (groin) set to rejoin the rotation Monday, Martinez should be headed back to the bullpen.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Hitting flipped pitches
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Friedl (thumb) has progressed to hitting flipped balls in the batting cage and hopes to be cleared to take batting practice soon, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Friedl is making a rapid recovery from a fractured left thumb, an injury he suffered just 11 days ago. If the outfielder is able to take batting practice soon, a brief rehab assignment should follow shortly after. He would appear on track for an early June return from the 10-day injured list.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Still on track for Monday return
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Lodolo (groin) threw a successful extended bullpen session Wednesday and is set to throw off the mound again Saturday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Assuming he comes out of Saturday's session without any hiccups, Lodolo will be set to return from the 15-day injured list to start against the Cardinals on Monday, the first day he'll be eligible for activation. The left-hander is working his way back from a left groin strain.
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Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Resting Thursday
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Stephenson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.
After catching in both of the past two days, Stephenson will get a breather Thursday as the Reds and Padres wrap up their series with an afternoon game. Luke Maile will replace Stephenson as the Reds' starting catcher.
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Reds' Jake Fraley: Out of lineup with hand injury
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Fraley (hand) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.
Fraley will miss out on a second consecutive start while he manages a bruised and swollen right hand. The Reds seem to be viewing Fraley as day-to-day, so he could be available off the bench in the series finale.
Reds' Noelvi Marte: Ramping up in Dominican Republic
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Marte (suspension) recently reported to the Reds' facility in the Dominican Republic to continue participating in exhibition games before the start of the Dominican Summer League, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Marte is continuing to serve the 80-game suspension he was handed down in March for violating MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program, but he's been able to stay in playing shape of late by appearing in extended spring training games in Arizona and now in the Dominican Republic. According to team president Nick Krall, the Reds plan to have Marte participate in games in the Dominican Republic for about a week to 10 days before he returns to the United States to begin an official rehab assignment in the minors. Marte, who hit .316 with three home runs and six stolen bases in 35 games for the Reds in 2023 following his late-season promotion to the big leagues, is eligible to make his 2024 debut for the big club June 27 in St. Louis.
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Reds' Jake Fraley: Out of Cincinnati lineup
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Fraley (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Padres.
Fraley exited early in Tuesday's 2-0 win after being struck on the right hand by a pitch. X-rays came back negative, but the hand is still stiff and it's not clear whether he'll be available off the bench, Reds manager David Bell told Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati will use Nick Martini in right field Wednesday.
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Reds' Spencer Steer: Returns to starting nine
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Steer (ankle) will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Steer didn't start in either of the last two games while managing a sore ankle, though he felt well enough to make a pinch-hitting appearance in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers. Monday's team off day plus an absence from the lineup in Tuesday's 2-0 win over San Diego appears to have provided sufficient time for Steer to move past the ankle issue. He'll likely continue to see the bulk of his starts at first base rather than in the corner outfield for the duration of Christian Encarnacion-Strand's (wrist) stint on the injured list.
Benson batted ninth and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 2-0 win over San Diego.
Benson had been Cincinnati's leadoff batter against right-handers since TJ Friedl (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list last week. Rookie Jacob Hurtubise took on the role Tuesday with Benson sliding to the bottom of the order. Benson had gone 4-for-18 with two walks and two home runs over his last five games as the leadoff batter. It's unclear if this will be manager David Bell's plan going forward until Friedl is ready.
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Reds' Jacob Hurtubise: Bats leadoff Tuesday
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Hurtubise batted leadoff and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Padres.
Since TJ Friedl (thumb) landed on the 10-day injured list, Will Benson had handled leadoff duties against right-handers, but manager David Bell moved the rookie to the top of the order Tuesday. It's unclear if this will remain the manager's practice going forward. Hurtubise has two hits and two walks over 13 plate appearances since being called up from Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Jonathan India: Remains in game after injury
Rotowire
India suffered a left shin injury during Tuesday's win over the Padres but remained in game, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
India was hurt when he got tangled up with San Diego catcher Luis Campusano while scoring on a sacrifice fly to left. India was noticeably grabbing the shin and limped off the field but was able to finish the game. It is presumed he will be able to play Wednesday, but the Reds will likely wait to see how the shin responds overnight.
