BREAKING: Two powerful key Reds players facing unexpected season-ending surgery

Before tonight’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, the Cincinnati Reds manager informed the press that both pitcher Brandon Williamson and infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand are weighing options for potential season-ending surgeries as they recover from their respective injuries.

Mark Sheldon from Reds.com provided the specifics, mentioning that Encarnacion-Strand suffered ligament damage in addition to a fractured hand. Williamson, who returned from his rehab stint last week, has a shoulder lesion.

Encarnacion-Strand, after a promising rookie season in 2023, struggled at the start of the 2024 campaign, batting .190/.220/.293 in 29 games. He sustained a hand injury from a pitch but continued playing until imaging revealed a broken bone about a week and a half later. He was placed on the injured list on May 8th and has not played since. Recent updates indicate ligament damage alongside the broken bone, though details on the timing and cause remain undisclosed.

Williamson, who performed well in his rookie year, had hopes of securing a spot in the rotation after a strong spring in 2024. However, he landed on the injured list near the end of spring training due to a strained shoulder. Following a six-week absence, he embarked on a rehab assignment, impressing in minor league starts. However, concerns arose before his fifth rehab start, leading to his removal from the assignment. The discovery of a lesion during subsequent evaluation raised uncertainties, though specifics regarding the lesion type were not provided.

In a silver lining perspective, especially concerning Williamson, the option of surgery suggests the injury may not be as severe as initially feared, allowing for potential continuation of his pitching career without a definite requirement for surgery.

Both players are anticipated to reach decisions regarding their respective courses of action in the coming days.