Sources have indicated to me that Cincinnati Reds top position prospect Jesse Winker has a torn tendon and will be heading to the disabled list. Rumblings began to show up that he had a hand injury of some kind about a week ago, and he has played in just two games over the last two weeks including the Futures Game. There may be surgery to repair the injury, but that is still up in the air. For now he is in a cast, and was at least in one as of last night.
For the time being, how long he is out is undetermined, but with the minor league season ending at the end of August, I would expect for him to miss the rest of the season. That of course will likely push back his ETA to the big leagues, as he is missing out on about 150 additional Double-A plate appearances this season, which likely means there isn’t much of a chance to begin the 2015 season in Triple-A Louisville.
Update at 8:30pm
While listening to the Pensacola broadcast just now, Blue Wahoos play-by-play guy Tommy Thrall said that Winker is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with the injury.
If he winds up missing five weeks, that will put it to the end of the season. I think I may just take that chance and look at sending him to the Arizona Fall League in October and November to make up some time.
I will update this article with more information when it becomes available.