Senzel (broken left toe) out for rest of 2022

September 21st, 2022

CINCINNATI -- Reds center fielder Nick Senzel was hoping to complete the 2022 season without a serious injury. Senzel played in a career-high 110 games, but his year will end with a stint on the injured list after he broke a toe of his left foot during Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Red Sox.

With two outs in the top of the third inning, J.D. Martinez hit a drive to deep center field. Senzel ran to attempt a catch but crashed hard into the fence and spent several moments lying on the warning track. Martinez reached third base with an RBI triple.

“It’s obviously tough. I wanted to finish this thing out. Obviously it’s not going to happen,” said Senzel, who was wearing a walking boot.

Senzel’s foot hit under the fence’s padding, which caused the fracture. After athletic trainer Tomas Vera and manager David Bell came out to check on him, Senzel was able to get up. He tried to run but couldn't do so without limping.

“As soon as he started to try to run, it was pretty clear that he couldn’t do it,” Bell said.

Stuart Fairchild finished the game in center field for Senzel. The Reds will likely make a roster move to add another position player on Wednesday.

Senzel, 27, missed the final 120 games of 2021 after he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He didn’t play 27 of the 60 games in the shortened '20 season and was out for most of the final month of his '19 rookie year with a shoulder injury.

In 110 games in 2022, Senzel batted .231/.296/.306 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. Over the past 10 days, he has been working with a new batting stance and was hoping to use the final stretch of games to build for next season.

“It was the most games I’d played. I got to 110 and was able to make adjustments,” Senzel said. “I have a good plan going into the offseason. Being around the guys, I was going through the challenges of the season. The highs and lows and all of it. It’s important for years to come.”