ST. PETERSBURG – The Reds are close to getting one injured player back in catcher Jose Trevino while another, starting pitcher Nick Lodolo, had another successful test on Tuesday.
During a simulated game against hitters early in the afternoon at Tropicana Field, Lodolo threw 50 pitches over three innings. Trevino, who caught a simulated inning for reliever Caleb Ferguson on Monday, was one of the hitters Lodolo faced.
“I felt good. We checked that box and we’ll just move on to the next," said Lodolo, who has been on the injured list since a blister developed on his left index finger during a March 22 Spring Training game.
Lodolo tested the skin of his finger by throwing sliders in the bullpen, but did not use any against the hitters.
“It was fine," he said.
Up next for Lodolo is a rehab assignment that will begin Sunday with four innings for High-A Dayton. The left-hander is expected to use his slider, which is the pitch that has caused the blister to form on the pad of his finger.
“Every step I get past, I definitely get more hopeful," said Lodolo, who logged time on the IL because of a blister each of the past two seasons. "We checked that one and we’ll worry about the next one and get through that and kind of just go five days at a time now.”
Trevino, who went on the IL April 8 (retroactive to April 5) because of a thoracic spine strain in his back, has shown steady progress in recent days. After Tuesday's session, manager Terry Francona met with the medical staff and strength coach Rob Fumagalli to go over the options.
“We’re thinking about activating him for [Wednesday]," Francona said. "Talking to the trainers, Fumo, everybody. I think we feel like if we don’t activate him tomorrow, it actually, like, buys them four more days because he wouldn’t catch until probably Sunday."
P.J. Higgins has been filling in as Cincinnati's backup catcher since Trevino has been out.