Walking Wounded Are Working To Come Back Strong

There are three players in camp slowed by injury but all of them are progressing.

Rhett Lowder, elbow, Spencer Steer right shoulder and Wade Miley elbow surgery are getting reps to come back but Terry Francona is pumping the brakes on a quick return.

“Steer is not throwing yet,” Francona reported. “He will be DHing early on in camp. I told him once he starts his throwing progression. We will have him play first base because he doesn’t have to throw as much. We told him and he was fine with that. I think the reps will be really good for him.”

Lowder’s elbow is not that serious but the Reds are being cautious with a jewel in their list of prospects. 

“We talked to the medical people. He will start throwing tomorrow. We will visit with him at the end of the week and start giving him some milestones to shoot for. I think he’s been down and not throwing for five weeks. You’ve got to give him some time to build up. Now, saying that he had already built himself up. We don’t want to give him an artificial time table. We explained to him when we get to this point, we’ll do this, when we get to this point, we’ll do this. We will let how he feels dictate, Francona explained.

The Reds thought Wade Miley was on track for May but was impressed with his early progress. 

“I was stunned,” said the manager with 23 years of experience. “I was just sitting there and his first pitch, like he followed the glove. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe how good he was. I told him we have to piss you off. Guys like him want to pitch now, that’s part of what makes them good. You’ve got to care about them and not let them hurt themselves.

Miley sets an example for the younger pitchers in camp.

“Miley watches things he sees things. He’s going to be very good for our guys. I listened to Nick (Krall) and Brad (Meador) talk about him the other day. He sees things during the game that are valuable. He’s a baseball rat,” said Francona.

Could Francona see Miley as a manager?

“I don’t know,” Francona said. “The reason I say that is not because of his baseball acumen. Guys that play as long as he has make a lot of money. You have to want to. It’s not like he needs to so I don’t know. I hope guys like him stay in the game because it’s good for the game.”