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Tyler Naquin heads to IL; Mike Trout was commissioner in Pham's fantasy football league

bobby nightengale, cincinnati enquirer
·3 min read

BOSTON – As soon as the Cincinnati Reds start to look a little healthier, another injury hit keeps coming.

Tyler Naquin was placed on the 10-day injured list before Wednesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox with a strained left quad. TJ Friedl was promoted from Triple-A Louisville.

Naquin will be evaluated by a doctor when the Reds return to Cincinnati on Thursday. The Reds now have 14 players on the injured list.

“We believe he’s also getting a second opinion,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “It’s going to be a little while. I think the good news is quads can be a little bit different than a hamstring, so I think you can maybe come back a little quicker from that.”

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Tyler Naquin (12) hits a single in the eighth inning during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The San Francisco Giants won, 6-4.
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Tyler Naquin (12) hits a single in the eighth inning during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The San Francisco Giants won, 6-4.

Naquin exited Tuesday’s game after a fourth-inning groundout to first base. He walked with a limp after crossing the first-base bag. He tried to hustle down the line ahead of Red Sox first baseman Franchy Cordero’s flip to pitcher Michael Wacha.

In 39 games this year, Naquin was hitting .255 with 11 doubles, five homers, 22 RBI and 22 runs.

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout leads off first base as Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto shuffles into a defensive position in the first inning, Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, at Great American Ball Park.
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout leads off first base as Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto shuffles into a defensive position in the first inning, Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, at Great American Ball Park.

FANTASY FOOTBALL FALLOUT: Tommy Pham confirmed Mike Trout was the commissioner of the fantasy football league that was at the center of his altercation with San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson last weekend.

Pederson was accused of cheating in the league, he said, when he put a player who was listed as out on his team’s injured reserve to add an additional player. Pederson said he pointed out Pham did something similar with 49ers running back Jeff Wilson in a group chat with the league’s participants.

Pham was suspended for three games after he slapped Pederson across the face during batting practice last Friday.

“Am I going to resign?” Trout told reporters in New York on Wednesday. “I haven’t made that decision, I don’t know. But every commissioner I know always gets booed.”

May 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham (28) tosses his bat after walking in the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham (28) tosses his bat after walking in the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Pham said Tuesday, with a laugh, that Trout was “the worst commissioner in fantasy sports because he allowed a lot of (stuff) to go on, and he could’ve solved it all.” Pham noted other members of the $10,000 league put commissioner duties on Trout.

“I think it’s you guys dragging it on,” said Trout, referring to reporters. “I talked to Tommy, I talked to Joc, everybody that was a part of it — just passionate about fantasy football.

“A lot of people put their hearts to it. I do, too. I lost that league.”

Wilson, who wasn’t involved in the league, was honored that he was the fantasy football player mentioned.

“That was crazy, man,” Wilson told 49ers reporters. “I’m just honored to be in the conversation. Shout out to Joc for having me on the team and taking one for the team.”

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez (53) looks up after the final out of the fifth inning of the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 28, 2022.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez (53) looks up after the final out of the fifth inning of the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 28, 2022.

GUTIERREZ TO BULLPEN: Vladimir Gutierrez will return to the bullpen with Mike Minor scheduled to make his season debut Friday, but it’s possible one of his next appearances could come in a start.

The Reds are considering using Gutierrez for a spot start within the next week to give their starters an extra day of rest. The Reds are in a stretch where they’re playing on 16 consecutive days.

PHAM SCRATCHED: Pham was scratched from the Reds’ lineup for the second straight game Wednesday. He’s dealt with soreness around his left calf, but Bell said Pham was expected to return to the lineup Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mike Trout talks fantasy football league with Tommy Pham, Joc Pederson