MILWAUKEE — After missing the Reds’ last six games with back spasms, left fielder Austin Hays appeared nearly ready to return.
“Iâ€m feeling really good the last two days,” Hays said Sunday morning.
Ahead of Game 162 vs. the Brewers, Hays was hitting off a velocity machine and doing running and throwing. If he still felt good, he could be an option off the bench for manager Terry Francona.
“Yesterday I hit during the game,” Hays said. “I felt good to take an at-bat if I needed to. Iâ€ll do the same thing again today.â€
“Iâ€m feeling really confident because of the last two days,” Hays said. “Three days ago, I was a little skeptical because we had a little bit of a setback. Yesterday, running and throwing was really good, and then I was able to swing [and] do my full normal routine at a normal effort level.â€
Hays, 30, is batting .301/.323/.505 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in his last 25 games since Aug. 23. Overall, he entered the day batting .266/.316/.454 with 15 homers and 64 RBIs in 102 games. His season has included three stints on the injured list this season with three different injuries.
With this injury, Hays appreciated the Reds holding off on putting him back on the IL.
“It means a lot,” Hays said. “I know if they placed me on the IL, I would have been ineligible to play in that first playoff series. Just getting a chance these last five days to just do everything possible trying to get it turned around, to get me to be available in that first round of the playoffs.â€
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