CINCINNATI –- Jose Franco needed to get back to being in a starting rotation. That was the message the Reds and manager Terry Francona gave the rookie right-hander when they optioned him to Triple-A Louisville after Thursday's loss at Miami.
Franco, Cincinnati's No. 11 ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, was sent down when the club recalled right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas from Louisville.
“We told him yesterday that he did nothing wrong," Francona said on Friday. "He’s a kid that basically came out of Double-A for the most part. He needs to start. As much as we had used him in Miami, he would have probably been down the whole series [vs. the Angels].”
Franco, 25, was a late addition to the Opening Day roster when starter Nick Lodolo went on the 15-day injured list because of a left index finger blister. The right-hander, who made his big league debut on March 30 vs. the Pirates, was used out of the bullpen and had a 3.18 ERA in three appearances -- including two innings with three runs (two earned) and four hits on Thursday.
For Louisville, Franco is scheduled to start on Wednesday.
“We really thought he handled himself well," Francona said. "There are some send-downs that are really tough. This wasn’t. He’s mature enough and a good enough kid where he understood.”
Nicolas was acquired in the March 4 trade from the Pirates for infielder Tyler Callihan. He missed most of Spring Training with Cincinnati to represent Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic but didn't pitch enough to get built up for the season.
In four appearances for Louisville, Nicolas had a 2.08 ERA.
“I was talking to [Louisville manager Pat Kelly]. He’s been pounding the strike zone much better," Francona said. "When he does that, he’s going to be OK.”
Lodolo update
Lodolo successfully threw a side bullpen session on Thursday in Miami but it was far from full intensity.
“I probably threw 10 pitches. I don’t even know what intensity but it wasn’t crazy," Lodolo said on Friday.
Lodolo was off from throwing on Friday and will play catch again Saturday. Another bullpen session was scheduled for Sunday.
“It will be determined when we get to Sunday what it looks like and what it feels like," he said.
Lodolo's blister – which also put him on the IL in 2024 and '25 - formed on the pad of his index finger when throwing his slider. If there's good news to be had, the finger is starting to form a callus.
"It’s getting there," Lodolo said. "It just takes a while to heal. I can throw. I can play catch and stuff. It’s spinning it. I’ve got to get to a spot where I can start spinning it again.”
Trevino gets back injection
Catcher Jose Trevino, who went on the 10-day IL Wednesday (retroactive to Sunday) with a thoracic spine strain, underwent an epidural injection and it has worked well so far.
“Big relief. Our staff is on it. I think they’re doing a great job and I feel really good today," said Trevino, who was replaced on the active roster by P.J. Higgins.
Trevino, 33, is batting .091 (1-for-11) in three games this season. He tried to play through the injury for a while.
“It started in Spring Training. It got a little better then it started acting up a little bit at the end," Trevino said. "Then the first games I played, it was there.
"I never ever really think a baseball player is 100 percent. Just for the love for the game, when you’re banged up you still find a way to play. But I just think that I wasn’t having any fun while playing with this thing and trying to get through it. It just didn’t feel great. I tried that last game in Texas. It just didn’t feel right.”