Reds outfielder Jake Fraley delays surgery, plans to play through the pain
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley knows how badly this is going to hurt, and he doesn’t particularly care.
Fraley has a distinct crack in his fourth metatarsal and a fracture in his foot. He needs surgery, and the doctors told Fraley that he’d risk making the injury and the pain much worse if he delayed having that surgery.
This week, experts presented Fraley two options. He could have season-ending surgery Or he could come off the injured list soon, manage that pain for the rest of the season and have surgery in the offseason.
Reds Blue Jays rookies Cincinnati Reds call up top prospect Noelvi Marte for team's MLB-leading 10th debut
Reds rookie rankings Cincinnati Reds Rookie Power Rankings: You'll never believe who's No. 2 behind Matt McLain
Reds Blue Jays walkoff Christian Encarnacion-Strand keeps it simple when situations are tough
“If you tell me there’s a 1% chance with a cool team like this,” Fraley said, “I’m going all-in.”
On Saturday, Fraley began a running progression and resumed taking batting practice. He said the running progression goes for the next week-and-change. Fraley said that he plans to be back in the Reds’ lineup very soon.
The other option was season-ending surgery. Fraley will need the procedure during the offseason, and Reds manager David Bell said that Fraley should be good to go for spring training.
Doctors told Fraley that if he tries to play through the injury, then he could have a clear break through the bone in his foot.
“We could absolutely have that happen,” Fraley said. “I don’t know. I can’t tell the future. The reason why they’re ok with me playing through this is that even if I do something like that, which would be a worst case scenario, it doesn’t change the recovery time of the surgery.”
Over the last few weeks, the Reds’ lineup hasn’t been clicking at the same level that it did in June and July. One of the biggest reasons for that is that the team is missing Fraley and second baseman Jonathan India.
Fraley has been one of the most productive hitters in MLB this year against right-handed pitching. He’s such a big piece of the Reds’ lineup that Bell said he’d be willing to change the dynamic of the starting lineup and make Fraley a regular designated hitter if that would help get Fraley more at-bats when he returns.
Reds Blue Jays Brett Kennedy's surprising start gives Reds a shot for a walk-off win over the Blue Jays
Reds pitching additions 'It's not too late': Why Savior Season starts Sunday for Cincinnati Reds, Hunter Greene
“I felt blessed to have the season that I was having and even more so to have the group of guys that we have here and the team we have here and how we’ve played this year,” Fraley said. “When I was told all of this news, I thought I was done. I had to have surgery. As the conversations continued and that you have a chance to play through this, you could have told me that the bone was completely healed. That’s how excited I was.”
A few days ago, Fraley was sitting in the dugout next to outfielder Spencer Steer, and they discussed the decision that Fraley was about to make.
Fraley told Steer that there were examples of NFL and NBA players battling through the injury and postponing surgery to the offseason. As soon as Steer heard him say that, he said, “So when are you coming back?”
“I knew that Jake’s the kind of guy who will be on this field if he can,” Steer said. “He’ll make that return sooner rather than later and be back in the lineup hitting bombs.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds outfielder Jake Fraley delays surgery on foot to keep playing
