GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Reds will be without left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson on their Opening Day roster because of a mild right oblique strain. That means another opening has been created in the competition for the final bullpen spots.
Reds manager Terry Francona said Ferguson went for an MRI exam that revealed the injury.
"We had him checked out. They’re going to try to keep his arm moving, but when we get back to Cincinnati, depending on how he’s feeling physically, he’ll get MRI’d again," Francona said on Thursday. "And the hope is that’s not going to be like we’ve seen obliques [get]. I think we’re thinking maybe a couple of weeks and then get back going. It’s got to heal the way it heals.”
Ferguson, 29, was signed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract as a free agent on Dec. 18. He has appeared in two spring games, most recently on Saturday vs. the Royals, when he gave up five earned runs and five hits over two-thirds of an inning.
"I don’t really know how it happened," Ferguson said. "I threw in the game in Surprise. I felt fine during the game. Felt fine after the game. I came in the next day and had what I thought was natural soreness just from spring buildup.”
The soreness initially went away but returned a couple of days later when he was in the gym and then notified the club. The MRI was done as a precaution.
“I think I was a little bit surprised by the result, to be honest," he said. "When you have an injury in that area … there’s so many unknowns. You want to make sure you’re doing the right thing.”
Over 70 appearances and 65 1/3 innings -- both career highs -- for Pittsburgh and Seattle in 2025, Ferguson posted a 3.58 ERA while allowing only two home runs.
Ferguson and Brock Burke were two lefties expected to be in Cincinnati's bullpen to begin the season. A third lefty, Sam Moll, is also competing for a spot. A fourth lefty, Brandon Williamson, is battling for a rotation spot but potentially could be a bullpen option if he doesn't get into the starting five when camp breaks.
But backfilling the bullpen with a lefty to replace Ferguson is far from a guarantee.
“I don’t know. We’ll see," Francona said. "I don’t think when a lefty or righty goes down, you don’t necessarily get a lefty or righty. I think you try to get people that get people out. Because you may not use that guy in the same way. Not sure if it’s just one-for-one.”
Without Ferguson, the Reds appear to have three reliever spots up for grabs.
Other relievers vying to make the club are right-handers Connor Phillips, Luis Mey, Zach Maxwell and non-roster invitees Tejay Antone, Lyon Richardson and Hagen Danner. Another righty, Kyle Nicolas, has been away pitching for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Nicolas was acquired from the Pirates in the March 4 trade for Tyler Callihan.