Santillan's (back/knee/hamstring) recently scheduled live batting practice session was scratched due to left hamstring soreness, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Santillan had finally been making some progress as he works his way back from back, knee and hamstring problems, but now he's had another setback. His future status is uncertain.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Santillan (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list by the Reds on Friday.
The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Matt Reynolds. Santillan was on a rehab assignment from a back injury earlier this month when he suffered a knee injury. It's not clear how long he'll be out, but he's now not eligible for activation for another month.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Pulled off rehab assignment
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Santillan (back) was pulled off his rehab assignment Friday due to right knee discomfort.
Santillan had been pushing toward his season debut after battling a back injury last year and again this spring, but that plan will be put on hold due to this knee issue he picked up at Triple-A Louisville. The severity of the setback is not yet clear.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Begins rehab assignment Tuesday
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Santillan (back) will report to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Santillan was placed on the 15-day injured list with his back injury on Opening Day and didn't get a chance to pitch in the Cactus League. The right-hander is expected to work in a relief role once back with the Reds, and barring a setback that should take place sometime in the middle of April.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Lands on 15-day IL
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The Reds placed Santillan (back) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Santillan managed to appear in minor-league games toward the end of spring training, but he still has some build-up ahead as he recovers from a lingering back strain.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Pitching Wednesday in MiLB game
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Santillan (back) is scheduled to pitch a minor-league game Wednesday for the Reds in Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
This will be Santillan's first appearance of the spring -- albeit on the minor-league fields -- as he has been sidelined with a back strain that also saw him miss action during the 2022 campaign. The right-hander is hoping to be ready for his 2023 debut by mid-April, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he'll open the regular season on the injured list.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Throws live batting practice
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Santillan (back) threw a live batting practice session Saturday, facing Will Benson and Jose Barrero, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. It was his first live session of the spring.
Santillan is targeting a return to game action by mid-April, though what role he'll have upon his return remains uncertain.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Throwing side session Tuesday
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Santillan (back) is throwing a side session Tuesday in Reds camp, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Santillan is likely to spend a bit of time on the IL to begin the 2023 regular season as he continues to work through a back strain that popped up last summer, but the hope is that he could be a high-leverage bullpen option in Cincinnati around early-to-mid April.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Could be delayed for season
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Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Santillan (back) may not be ready to pitch by the start of the regular season, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Santillan is making steady progress in his recovery from the lower-back strain that he suffered last summer, but he hasn't quite returned to full strength yet. The 25-year-old right-hander projects to fill a middle-relief or setup role for Cincinnati whenever he's fit enough to do so.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Likely done for season
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Santillan (back) is unlikely to return this season, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Manager David Bell called it a "long shot" to expect Santillan to return from his lower-back strain this season. Alexis Diaz has emerged as the Reds' go-to option for saves in Santillan's absence.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Moves to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Santillan (back) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
The move guarantees Santillan will return from his back strain no sooner than mid-August, though manager David Bell speculated the reliever might not be activated until September, per Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Prior to landing on the shelf with al lower-back strain, Santillan struggled to the tune of a 5.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 19.2 innings, but he could still see high-leverage work once healthy.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Cleared for core-strengthening work
Rotowire
Santillan (back) began core-strengthening exercises this weekend and could be cleared to resume a throwing program within the next week, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Santillan may have an outside chance of making it back for the final weekend before the All-Star break if he avoids any further snags in his rehab program for his strained lower back, but given the Reds' place in the standings, it wouldn't be surprising if he was held out for the remainder of the first half. Before landing on the shelf, Santillan had recorded a save, blown save or hold in each of his final seven appearances, but he may not immediately factor into closing situations upon his return. While Santillan has been sidelined, Hunter Strickland has notched three saves in as many chances and looks to be manager David Bell's preferred closing option.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Lands on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Santillan was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a back injury.
Santillan has apparently been dealing with the issue over the last few days and will be sidelined for at least two weeks. The exact nature and severity of his injury aren't yet clear, and he doesn't have a timetable to return. Art Warren and Alexis Diaz should see more work in the ninth inning while Santillan and Lucas Sims (back) are sidelined.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Blows save against Arizona
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Santillan (0-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks to blow the save and take the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Santillan entered the game in the ninth inning in a save situation, but he unraveled by retiring just two of the six batters he faced. While he has served as Cincinnati's closer of late, Santillan has allowed at least one earned run in each of his last three appearances while giving up eight hits and three walks across just 2.1 frames. Art Warren or Alexis Diaz could start to earn more work in the ninth inning if Santillan's struggles continue.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Survives for fourth save
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Santillan got the save Tuesday after he pitched one inning, giving up one run on three hits while striking out two in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Red Sox.
Santillan was called on in the bottom of the ninth inning to protect a 2-0 lead, but he quickly ran into trouble. He allowed three hits including a two-out RBI single to Alex Verdugo, but he was able to get Trevor Story swinging to end the contest. The save was the 25-year-old's fourth of the season in five opportunities and he also has four holds. The earned run was his first given up in his last six appearances, and he's earned two three saves and two holds over that stretch. Santillan now owns 4.67 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 17.1 frames spanning 17 appearances this year.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Collects third save
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Santillan allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings to earn the save in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Giants.
Santillan escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth inning with little trouble before putting more traffic on base in the ninth. He was able to get a little help from his defense, as Joey Bart was thrown out at home on a two-out Wilmer Flores single that would have counted as the game-tying run. Santillan has not given up a run in his last five appearances, logging six scoreless inning with two saves, two holds and a 4:4 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 18:9 K:BB, three saves, four holds and a blown save across 16.1 innings. As long as he's pitching well, the 25-year-old should remain in the Reds' high-leverage mix as part of a closer committee.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: First save since Opening Day
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Santillan earned the save in Thursday's win over the Guardians. He struck out one batter in 1.2 perfect innings.
When Alexis Diaz made a mess of things in the eighth inning, Santillan was there to clean up. He got a double play to end the eighth and then retired the side in order in the ninth to secure his second save of the season, and first since Opening Day. Diaz has the best numbers in the Cincinnati bullpen, but Diaz is inexperienced, and manager David Bell likes to mix and match anyway. Santillan, Art Warren and others will likely remain in the mix for the occasional save as the chances get spread around.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Struggles with control
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Santillan struggled in Thursday's loss to the Padres, retiring two batters while hitting two batters, walking another and then giving up a bases-loaded double. A lack of command of his slider was the main culprit for his issues, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "Right from pitch one, it looked like he was maybe overthrowing his slider a little bit, pulling it," Reds manager David Bell said.
Since nailing down the save on Opening Day, Santillan has declined, picking up one hold over the weekend, but seeing his ERA skyrocket to 8.10 with a WHIP of 1.50. Lucas Sims is now back from the injured list, and Santillan has been pushed down in the closer pecking order as a result.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Notches save Thursday
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Santillan earned a save against Atlanta on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning during which he struck out two batters.
The Reds' closer situation was murky enough heading into the regular season, and it becomes even more complicated with Santillan -- who wasn't generally considered among the prime candidates for ninth-inning duties -- picking up the team's first save. Manager David Bell indicated in late March that the right-hander was even being considered for a spot in the starting rotation, so the organization obviously values his versatility. It seems unlikely that Santillan would be handed full-time closer duties after one successful outing, though he handled the role with aplomb Thursday, throwing 11 of 15 pitches for strikes and retiring the side in order. There will no doubt be plenty of Thursday night FAAB bids placed on the hurler based on his Opening Day performance, but managers would be wise to reign in expectations for what remains an unsettled bullpen situation in Cincinnati.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Set for high-leverage middle relief
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Santillan is expected to fill a high-leverage middle-innings role this season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The Reds intend to use Santillan the same way they used Tejay Antone last season before the latter underwent Tommy John surgery. Santillan could pick up the occasional save that way -- Antone saved three games in 23 appearances -- but his main path to fantasy relevance may come from the fact that he'll likely throw more than an inning at a time. Santillan has a history as a starting pitcher but didn't show the command necessary to fill that role last season, walking 11.1 percent of opposing batters.
