Reds closer Emilio Pagán feeling better after injury scare

Pagán played catch and appears to have avoided serious hamstring injury

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp planes of red, black, and white representing the Cincinnati Reds' uniform colors. The abstract, cubist style conveys the intensity and drama of a high-pressure save situation.A cubist interpretation of a Reds pitcher's delivery captures the raw energy and tension of a crucial late-inning save.Cincinnati Today

Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán played catch on Wednesday and it appears his left hamstring injury is not as serious as initially feared. Pagán recorded his fifth save in Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants but appeared to wince on his final pitch. Reds manager Terry Francona said the team was worried Pagán would be very sore the next day, but he was able to throw aggressively on flat ground and his availability for Wednesday's game was still to be determined.

Why it matters

Pagán has been a key part of the Reds' bullpen this season, recording five saves so far. An extended injury to the team's closer could have a significant impact on the Reds' ability to hold late-inning leads and potentially impact their playoff chances in the competitive NL Central division.

The details

In Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Giants, Pagán recorded the save but appeared to wince after his final pitch to Giants pinch hitter Daniel Susac. Pagán said he felt a little tightness in his left leg but did not feel anything pop. The next morning, the team was worried Pagán would be very sore, but he was able to play catch aggressively and his status for Wednesday's game was still to be determined.

  • On Tuesday night, Pagán recorded his fifth save of the season against the Giants.
  • On Wednesday, Pagán played catch and his status for that night's game was still to be decided.

The players

Emilio Pagán

The Cincinnati Reds' closer who suffered a left hamstring injury in Tuesday's game but appears to have avoided a serious issue.

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds who provided an update on Pagán's injury status.

Daniel Susac

The San Francisco Giants pinch hitter who Pagán faced in Tuesday's game when he appeared to wince on his final pitch.

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What they’re saying

“'The worry was he'd show up this morning and be really sore. So that part's good. He went out and threw on flat ground and did that aggressively. We want to see how he feels when he cools down.'”

— Terry Francona, Reds Manager

“'On the last pitch it grabbed on me a little bit, on my left leg. I didn't feel it pop or anything. It was a little uncomfortable. I know cameras saw me wince a little bit. It was a little tight (this morning). I was able to test it out.'”

— Emilio Pagán

“'Looking like we kind of dodged a bullet. Hopefully things continue to trend to the positive.'”

— Emilio Pagán

What’s next

Pagán's availability to pitch in Wednesday's game against the Giants will be determined based on how he feels after playing catch and cooling down.

The takeaway

This injury scare for Reds closer Emilio Pagán appears to have been avoided, which is good news for the team as they try to maintain their hold on a playoff spot in the competitive NL Central division. Pagán's ability to bounce back quickly from the hamstring tightness he felt on Tuesday is a positive sign for the Reds' bullpen going forward.