PHOENIX -- Because of a second injury to his left arm, the Reds already weren't optimistic that left-hander pitcher Brandon Finnegan would return to the rotation this season. But the news on Friday about a freak injury to Finnegan's right arm clinched that his 2017 season is over.
Finnegan had surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. He was injured in a fall while boating in Cincinnati.
"He was on a boat, going from the boat to the dock and he slipped and fell," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I assumed he tried to catch himself or whatever and did some damage to his shoulder."
Finnegan was already on the 60-day disabled list with strained teres major muscle near his left shoulder. He injured that muscle for the second time on June 26 in his first start off of the DL vs. the Cardinals. A different teres major strain had him on the DL from April 16-June 26.
"He will find it's a miserable rehab even though it's his non-throwing shoulder. He's got a double rehab going," Price said.
Team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek performed Finnegan's surgery. It was not clear how the right shoulder injury would impact his rehab for the left shoulder or if he would have trouble being ready to pitch in time for Spring Training 2018.
"I can tell you that it will take several weeks before his right shoulder is pain-free just from normal day-to-day stuff," Price said. "I imagine there will be things he can do with his left, but it will be a few weeks after his right shoulder surgery that he'll be able to address his left."
Romano sent down, but will return
The Reds optioned right-handed starting pitcher Sal Romano to Triple-A Louisville on Friday and recalled outfielder Jesse Winker. Romano earned his first big league win on Thursday vs. the Rockies with two earned runs and six hits over five innings.
Look for Romano to return to the big leagues sooner than later.
"I think it's very likely you'll see him pitching the fourth of fifth game of the second half of the season," Price said.
Romano, the Reds' No. 7 prospect, was slated to go home to Connecticut for an extended break since he wouldn't be able to pitch again for Louisville before its All-Star break begins next week.
"The Triple-A season resumes a day earlier than ours with a three-day All-Star break so he could potentially pitch in the first game after the break for Louisville [in Indianapolis]," Price said. "Organizationally, we were universal that he should get that first crack to come into our rotation and not have to look over his shoulder and think he's one bad start away from going back to the Minors."