MINNEAPOLIS -- Reds reliever David Hernandez didn't expect to be out so long from the right shoulder inflammation he began dealing with during Spring Training. But Hernandez was thrilled Friday when he was activated from the 10-day disabled list.
"I'm just excited. It's kind of like my Opening Day," said Hernandez, who threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings Friday against the Twins, striking out three, in his first big league appearance this year.
To make room for Hernandez on the 25-man roster, Cincinnati optioned utility player Phil Gosselin to Triple-A Louisville.
Hernandez, 32, made three Minor League rehab appearances for Louisville and allowed five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. During his final rehab outing on Wednesday, he worked a scoreless inning, throwing 15 pitches.
"It's a notch up in the Major League level with the adrenaline," interim manager Jim Riggleman said. "He may feel a little different up here. I'm looking for him to do more than that."
The Reds were less concerned about how Hernandez felt during the outing than how his body responded the next day.
"For me the big thing was the recovery, how long it took for me to bounce back to be able to get on the mound again," Hernandez said. "I feel like I go back to back, three out of four or multiple innings. Whatever the team needs, I can provide."
Hernandez was signed as a free agent in January to a two-year contract worth $5 million. During camp, he was sore after pitching.
"Once I stopped throwing, it seemed to accelerate the healing," he said. "At Spring Training, I thought I could pitch through it. It got to the point where it was tough to play catch the next day. Now, it's completely different."
Gosselin, 29, was hitting .125/.250/.250 with a home run and two RBIs through 20 games with the Reds this season. He signed a Minor League deal with Cincinnati during the offseason.
Bigger bullpen, smaller bench
By adding Hernandez, and subtracting Gosselin, the Reds are carrying eight relievers. And because the designated hitter is being used at Target Field, the Twins' American League ballpark, it leaves Riggleman with a three-man bench. And because one of the reserves is backup catcher Devin Mesoraco, it's effectively a two-man bench during the earlier innings.
"You know you're not going to use up bench players pinch-hitting for the pitcher's spot," Riggleman said. "The other side of it is you have less pitchers, because you know they're going to go six innings or so and there is no-pinch-hitting, you don't have to get them out so there are less pitchers. It depends on what your desire is at that point. This is what we came up with."
Injury update Reliever Michael Lorenzen (right teres major strain) has moved his rehab program to the Reds' player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz. Lorenzen threw off the mound during a light bullpen session on Wednesday for the first time since he was injured in Spring Training.