CHICAGO -- When Reds closer Emilio Pagán felt a pop in his left hamstring while delivering his first pitch of the ninth inning Tuesday, he went to the ground in agony. Pagán pounded on the grass and was even apologizing to manager Terry Francona and teammates before being helped onto a cart that took him off the field.
“Leaving the field yesterday, I thought my season was done, truthfully," Pagán said Wednesday.
Fortunately for Pagán and the Reds, MRI results showed a Grade 2 strain in his hamstring. The 34-year-old is expected to miss four to eight weeks, depending on how he heals and the progress of his rehab.
“A lot of emotions went through my mind last night. I feel like I’m letting a lot of people down. Obviously, the organization, the front office, [and] management invested a lot in me to be here," said Pagán, who was re-signed to a two-year, $20 million contract as a free agent Dec. 4 to anchor the bullpen again after saving 32 games for Cincinnati in 2025.
Pagán also felt the same hamstring tighten on him while throwing his final pitch for an April 14 save vs. the Giants. But he had no inkling anything was about to go wrong when summoned for the ninth inning of a 2-2 game against the Cubs.
"It was uncomfortable for a few outings, but I felt like I was getting to the end of it," he said. "I felt like the last few days I was getting back to being able to do my delivery the way I’m used to doing it.
"I don’t know if that’s what led to it, being able to get to a full-stride length or whatever, but I felt great warming up. I felt great on the game mound warming up and then that one pitch it popped, and obviously, felt pretty bad.”
The Reds placed Pagán on the 15-day injured list and selected the contract of Tejay Antone from Triple-A Louisville. Another reinforcement arrived as Pierce Johnson was activated from the bereavement list.
Cincinnati's bullpen has taken the loss in each of the previous three games of the five-game losing streak the club took into Wednesday. All were one-run defeats.
Francona did not designate a closer with Pagán out, but Tony Santillan, who usually works the eighth inning, and seventh-inning reliever Graham Ashcraft figure as candidates.
“I don’t think it makes a lot of sense just to name somebody,” Francona said. "I think some of it depends on how we get there, what the lineups look like, things like that.”
On days that Pagán wasn't available this season, Santillan, Ashcraft, lefty Brock Burke and righty Connor Phillips have all recorded a save.
“I hope that’s a really good thing," Francona said.
Pagán hoped to remain around the club while rehabbing, rather than going to the team complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
“I think I can help in other ways other than just pitching," Pagán said. "I can use my eyes and use my mind and try to help win ballgames from the side. That’s going to be my goal.”
In other transactions, pitcher Chase Petty -- who made a spot start for the club on Monday -- was optioned to Louisville and starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (left shoulder fatigue) was moved to the 60-day IL.
Williamson, who went on the 15-day IL last Thursday, did not suffer a setback since getting a cortisone shot. But the rationale was the lefty won't be throwing for a couple of weeks. And with his history of shoulder and elbow injuries, it will take quite a while for him to ramp up to being able to make starts again.
Francona expects Williamson back at some point to help the club.
“He’s not done for the year," Francona said.