A player on the Cincinnati Reds has suffered an injury setback and will begin the year on the injured list.
The Cincinnati Reds are continuing their preparations for the 2026 season as spring training winds down, but the club received some disappointing news regarding its bullpen depth. Injuries are a common part of camp, yet they can still complicate roster construction as Opening Day approaches.
Cincinnati has spent much of the spring evaluating its relief options while also monitoring the health of key players. The bullpen had already been expected to play an important role early in the season to eat innings, especially with right‑hander Hunter Greene dealing with an elbow injury that will keep him sidelined for an extended period.
Unfortunately one of those arms, left-hander Caleb Ferguson, will not be available for Opening Day, after suffering an injury this past week.
“Reds LH reliever Caleb Ferguson to open on IL (oblique),” reported Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Inquirer.
Ferguson signed with Cincinnati during the offseason on a one‑year deal worth $4.5 million, giving the club a veteran bullpen arm with postseason experience. The 29‑year‑old has spent parts of several seasons in the majors and has built a reputation as a reliable left‑handed option capable of handling high‑leverage situations.
Last season marked one of the busiest years of his career. Ferguson appeared in a career‑high 70 games while splitting time between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners. Across those appearances, he posted a 3.58 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings while compiling a 5‑4 record.
Ferguson also saw postseason action with Seattle, making three appearances during the playoffs. While those outings were brief, they gave him valuable postseason experience.
Over the course of his major‑league career, Ferguson has compiled a 24‑17 record with a 3.66 ERA and six total saves. His career has included stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Pirates and Mariners before signing with Cincinnati this winter.
With Ferguson expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Reds may now look to other left‑handed options to fill the gap. One pitcher who could benefit from the opportunity is reliever Sam Moll, who may have an increased chance of making the Opening Day roster. Moll is out of options and would likely have to be designated for assignment if he is not added to the 40-man roster.
As Cincinnati continues to sort through its bullpen options during the final stretch of spring training, the team will hope Ferguson can recover quickly and eventually provide the left‑handed depth the organization envisioned when it signed him.