CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds reinstated outfielder on Friday and placed outfielder Jake Fraley on the 10-day IL with a right shoulder sprain, retroactive to June 24.
Hays was batting .303 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 119 at-bats before being placed on the IL with a left foot contusion after fouling a pitch off his foot in a on May 28.
“We’ve missed him,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “He’s still a presence. It will lengthen our lineup. We’re getting a leader back.”
While Hays’ return adds an important piece to the Reds’ lineup, they will be without Fraley, their regular right fielder, for an undetermined amount of time.
Fraley, who’s batting .224 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 47 games, hasn’t played since .
“He said it’s hurting,” Francona said of Fraley’s shoulder. “If he’s going to play, it’s not going to work if he’s worried about it. We’ll see what the best way to approach it is.”
Cincinnati, which took two of three from the first-place Yankees earlier this week, began the day 2 1/2 games out of the third NL wild spot.
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AP MLB:
Photo: Cincinnati Reds’ Austin Hays celebrates with teammates after their baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
