Reds second baseman Matt McLain discusses his return from a shoulder injury
SAN FRANCISCO –– As he rehabs from a shoulder injury, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain just got cleared to run and to throw. He’s still six weeks away from being cleared to swing a bat, and he’s eying a return to the Reds’ active roster in August.
“Hopefully, that’s the goal,” said McLain, who will travel with the Reds during this three-city West Coast road trip. “Whenever it’s ready, it’s ready. There’s a timeline for everything. Dr. (Neal) Elattrache told me the timeline could be this, but the shoulder could heal faster or slower. August would be a great goal. I had surgery on March 26. Five months would be August or September. I really don’t know. I just want to play.”
During spring training, McLain injured his left shoulder while diving for a ground ball during practice. He had successful surgery to address cartilage damage and repair his labrum.
Since he suffered the injury, McLain has only been able to do limited workouts and rehab exercises. Following a check-in last Monday, McLain advances to the next step in his comeback.
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“I’m in as good of a spot as I can be right now,” McLain said. “You never know with these longer term injuries how the rehab is going to go. Right now I’m in a great spot.”
McLain said that he doesn’t expect any issue with running or throwing. The real test, he said, will be when he starts swinging a bat later this summer.
“Swinging the bat will determine the speed of when I come back,” McLain said.
Until then, a Reds’ offense that has been in a bad slump will be anticipating the return of their most consistent hitter from last season. As a rookie, McLain played at an All-Star level with a .290 batting average and a .864 OPS before he suffered a season-ending oblique injury.
McLain’s shoulder injury during spring training set back what the Reds expected would be a breakout year for him. The Reds have missed McLain’s presence in the lineup all season.
Shoulder injuries are typically tricky for hitters. Former Reds Joey Votto and Eugenio Suárez both struggled rediscovering their power right away when they returned from significant shoulder injuries.
“Every case is different,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Matt has a lot going for him. He had a successful surgery. Our doctors are in close contact with the doctor that did the surgery. They feel very confident that he’s going to come back fully. There’s not going to be any long-term effects, which is the most important thing for Matt. It’s a relief to hear he’s not going to have to deal with that.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Matt McLain eyes a return from the IL in August
