The Cincinnati Reds have made several roster moves today. The team has placed Bronson Arroyo and Zack Cozart on the disabled list. Taking their place on the 25-man roster is Jesse Winker and Ariel Hernandez.
Bronson Arroyo noted how bad his shoulder was feeling after his start yesterday. Zack Cozart reportedly strained his quad and his disabled list placement is retroactive to Sunday.
#Reds place on 10-day DL RHP Bronson Arroyo (strained right shoulder) and SS Zack Cozart (strained right quad, retroactive to Sunday).
— Jeff Wallner (@JeffWallner) June 19, 2017
Jesse Winker joins the Reds and could possibly get more playing time than he had in his last call up (two pinch hit appearances). The team is in Tampa Bay for the next three games, giving them a chance to use him as a designated hitter. Winker has been on fire of late, going 9-16 (.563) with five doubles and four walks over his last four games for the Louisville Bats. For the season he is hitting .317/.399/.411 for Louisville with 15 doubles, two home runs, 32 walks and 33 strikeouts in 263 plate appearances.
Ariel Hernandez, like Winker, is making his second stint with the big league club this year. His first stint lasted just one game, but he humiliated the Brewers in 2.2 perfect innings with five strikeouts. He touched 101 MPH in that game and topped 100 six times in total.
With the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos he has posted a 2.18 ERA in 33.0 innings. The 25-year-old has battled consistency with the strikezone at times, though. He’s walked 20 batters in that time, but has allowed just 18 hits (1 double, 1 triple) and he’s struck out 39 batters. When he’s at his best, he’s nearly unhittable. In June he’s walked just three batters in 8.0 innings, showing signs of better control of late.
How long either player remains up with the club is unknown. It seems doubtful that Jesse Winker will stay up and take over playing time from either of the corner outfielders as things sit right now. However, with the DH over the next three days and perhaps a start and pinch hitting duties in the following series he could stay up for the next week-and-a-half.
For Ariel Hernandez, I’d expect him to remain with the team until they need to make a roster move to get a starting pitcher into the rotation to take over for Bronson Arroyo. If he pitches well, he could stick around longer, though we will just have to wait and see how that one turns out.