Cincinnati Reds finally rule out return this season for injured Matt McLain

Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer

MINNEAPOLIS — The Cincinnati Reds finally acknowledged what has looked obvious for several weeks:

One season after making his debut and becoming the Reds’ best player, infielder Matt McLain will finish 2024 without playing a game.

McLain, who suffered a serious shoulder injury in March and then suffered a rib-cage injury over the summer during rehab work, has progressed back to swinging a bat but not progressed quickly enough to consider a return in the final two weeks possible.

Matt McLain, here shown hitting a walk-off single against the Dodgers last June at Great American Ball Park, hit .290 with 16 home runs in 89 games as a rookie last season.
Matt McLain, here shown hitting a walk-off single against the Dodgers last June at Great American Ball Park, hit .290 with 16 home runs in 89 games as a rookie last season.

“It’s probably completely out of the question to get back to play during the regular season,” manager David Bell said. “No one’s said that. But just realistically it’s probably not going to happen.”

McLain, who finished last season on the injured list with an oblique injury, hasn’t played since an 89-game debut season ended on Aug. 27.

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The bigger question for one of the Reds’ best infield defenders, who hit .290 with 16 homers as a rookie, is what the Reds should be able to count on as they prepare for next spring.

And more immediately: Will they find him a place to play and get competitive at-bats before then.

“We’re working through it,” said team president Nick Krall, who has no plans in place for that yet. “He needs to complete rehab before we even get to the next step. I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves with anything.”

McLain recovered and rehabbed from shoulder surgery well enough to get back to the practice field at midseason. But just as he was about to start a minor-league rehab assignment, he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his rib cage, shutting him down again.

He said in July it was important for him to get back on the field this season, especially after finishing last year on the IL.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds rule out return this season for injured Matt McLain

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