Reds Promote Former Rutgers Star Brian O'Grady for MLB Debut and Place Derek Dietrich on IL
By Sean Facey
The Reds will be without one of their top sluggers for a while.
Home run-hitting infielder Derek Dietrich has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. To fill in for him while he recovers, infielder Brian O'Grady has been called up from Triple-A Louisville for the very first time.
The #Reds have selected the contract of IF Brian O'Grady from the Triple-A @LouisvilleBats. IF Derek Dietrich has been placed on the 10-day IL with left shoulder inflammation and IF Blake Trahan has been designated for assignment. pic.twitter.com/8jvGIoESEe
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 5, 2019
25-year-old Infielder Blake Trahan, who didn't even appear in an MLB game in 2019, was designated for assignment.
Dietrich has had a quality year in Cincinnati. The former Miami Marlin has 19 home runs to his name, breaking his previous career-high of 16. What makes his season so impressive is that he's needed just 273 plate appearances to reach 19 home runs, almost 300 fewer than the 551 he needed to hit 16 in 2018.
Derek Dietrich walked in his mid-game 1st appearance of the night.
— Red Reporter (@redreporter) August 4, 2019
That brings his season totals to this:
18 singles
19 HR
25 BB
22 HBP
Modern baseball is sure something.
His stint on the injured list, however, has opened the door for O'Grady to get a crack at the MLB. The 27-year-old has impressed in Triple-A, posting a .913 OPS along with 27 home runs.
Prior to his time in Triple-A, which started in 2018, he had managed just 28 home runs in 297 career minor league games. As Dietrich heals, O'Grady will have the chance to prove that his recent power surge in the minors is no fluke.