Dateline: Cincinnati
A injury to a backup catcher had a ripple effect that left prospect Rece Hinds without job at least temporarily.
It also allowed PJ Higgins another crack at the big leagues.
Timing is everything, like a two-out hit with runners in scoring position.
Jose Trevino pulled his left hamstring running out a bunt that helped the Reds fuel a three-run rally. What was supposed to be a night off for Tyler Stephenson in front of a day game after a night game forced him into action in the fifth inning.
The Reds placed Trevino on the 15-day injured list and allowed Higgins to return. Higgins filled in for Trevino, who had lower back pain until May 6. The Reds designated Higgins for assignment on May 13 to clear a 40-man roster spot when they signed Chris Paddack. He cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Louisville.
The Reds got their wish as no one picked him up on waivers.
"For his sake I hope he gets picked up. For our sake I hope he doesn't," Terry Francona said at the time.
Now the Reds risk losing their second hitting prospect this season. They lost Christian Encarnacion-Strand to waivers when they added Higgins to the 40-man, ironically.
Hinds showed promise when he broke in with the Reds in 2024. He hit four doubles, a triple and five home runs in a total of 51 plate appearances. He played in stints with the Reds in 2025 and early this season and totaled just four doubles and two home runs in 80 plate appearances. This season he came up on April 14 and returned May 3 with a .121 batting average and three doubles in 36 plate appearance. He has dominated in Louisville. Hinds hit .302 with 26 doubles, two triples and 24 home runs in 107 games. This season he is hitting .306 with three doubles, two triples and seven home runs in 23 games. His downfall was struggling with Major League pitching.
"Maybe for his sake he gets some opportunities he didn't get here. We love the kid and there are tools there. Sometimes things have a way of working out for guys," Francona said.
Trevino will fly to Cincinnati after the Reds play the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday (051726). He will get an MRI there.
The Reds sent Luis Mey back to Louisville and recalled Jose Franco.
Franco is a starting pitcher and the Reds were using him in long relief. He was a candidate for a fill-in starter before they signed, Paddack.
"He's handled it really well. I think last year with Petty, we felt like we didn't help him. Franco seems to handle it pretty well. We've explained to him kind of in depth. We will try to stretch you out. But if you get stretch out, you can always pitch in the bullpen here. We haven't tried to stretch him out too quickly. The other day he threw 42, 44 pitches. It would be going like zero to 60 in a hurry," Franco said.
Franco will not be available to pitch today because of his recent work but the Reds had sent him down on May 8th and he would only be eligible to return so soon if there was an injury. The Trevino injury was it.
"He needs another day," Francona said.
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