Cincinnati Reds Closer Emilio Pagán Optimistic About Quick Return from Injury

SAN DIEGO – Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán is diligently working on his recovery from a hamstring injury, fully aware of the team's pressing need for reliable support in its struggling bullpen. After expressing hope to resume mound activities by the week's end, Pagán kicked off the week in San Diego with his first throwing session since experiencing significant pain during a ninth-inning pitch on May 5 in Chicago.

The session on June 8 was intended to be a low-key affair, resembling a casual game of catch, with the catcher standing. However, manager Terry Francona noted that Pagán was "a little more aggressive than we wanted him to be," which was somewhat expected. "He’s doing real good," Francona added.

Pagán reported feeling "great" during his session and after a night of recovery. He is set to undergo a follow-up MRI on June 13 to assess whether he can progress to more intense throwing activities. "We’ve just gotta sit on him until we have more information," Francona stated.

For over a month now, the Reds' bullpen has struggled, exacerbated by injuries to setup men Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson. While Pagán is eager to contribute, he is also adhering to medical guidance and refraining from providing a specific timeline for his return. "I told them in the beginning I don’t really want to talk about a timeline. I just want to attack this as aggressive as I can," Pagán explained. He noted that he had previously pitched through a minor hamstring issue before sustaining a more serious injury.

Having achieved a career-high 32 saves with a 2.88 ERA last season, Pagán anticipates completing another light bullpen session before Saturday's MRI. If the results are favorable, he hopes to face hitters by Tuesday or Wednesday. "Then it’s, ‘What does a rehab stint look like, if I’m going on one, if I’m not?’ That’s obviously stuff that we’re gonna have to talk about," he said. "If I keep going like this, I’m gonna push to go real quick.”