Emilio Pagán gets encouraging scan after finger soreness, Reds say no structural damage

The Cincinnati Reds entered this week processing a major pitching blow: the team announced ace Hunter Greene is set to undergo a second Tommy John surgery. With the rotation and bullpen both carrying postseason-level importance for a club trying to keep its season pointed toward a playoff picture, Cincinnati sought a second opinion on another key arm, closer Emilio Pagán.

On Friday, Pagán went for a scan on a sore index finger and received an outcome the Reds described as encouraging. According to the team’s report, the examination showed no structural damage in the finger, a result that matters because it suggests the injury is not tied to the kind of tendon or ligament disruption that typically forces a long rebuilding timeline.

The Reds also framed Pagán’s outlook in practical terms. The team said he is able to throw splitters and that he was working with a plan based on how his finger responds to pitching stress. In a bullpen role defined by repeated high-velocity, command-heavy outings, the ability to continue using a repertoire pitch is often a sign that the issue may be manageable rather than season-altering.

Because closers are asked to perform on short rest and with high leverage, the “what can he throw” question is usually as important as the “what is the injury” question. The Reds’ update indicated Pagán could throw as many splitters as needed, emphasizing that the injury did not immediately show up as a limitation in a pitch type that can demand specific feel from the hand and fingers.

For Cincinnati, the timing is particularly notable. Hunter Greene’s surgery announcement immediately reshaped expectations for the pitching staff, and a second significant development in the same week increases the risk that the bullpen has to cover more innings in the near term. A no-structural-damage finding does not eliminate the possibility of subsequent setbacks, but it does shift the current problem away from a binary “repair surgery or not” decision and toward day-to-day management.

Going forward, the central storyline will be how Pagán’s finger responds as the Reds ramp intensity back toward game use. The team’s public emphasis on throwing suggests the next steps will be monitoring pain, command, and the ability to repeat his mechanics late in sessions. If the finger continues to hold up, Pagán’s recovery could help Cincinnati stabilize late-inning roles while other pitchers step into larger responsibilities in the wake of Greene’s surgery.

This situation also underscores how bullpen health can swing a season’s momentum. Even when a rotation ace is sidelined, teams can remain competitive by maintaining effectiveness in the final outs. For the Reds, Friday’s scan outcome offers a measure of continuity they can build around, even as they confront the longer-term consequences of Greene’s second Tommy John procedure.