Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Wade Miley made his second rehab appearance on Sunday afternoon as part of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The outing, however, was cut unexpectedly short after just 10 pitches when Miley appeared to suffer a setback. Following his final pitch, he signaled to the dugout for assistance, prompting an immediate visit from the team’s training staff.
Though the specifics of the injury remain unclear, it was evident from Miley’s body language that something was amiss. After a brief conversation on the mound, he exited the game under his own power, but with a noticeable sense of discomfort. The sudden departure sparked concern given his recent return from major elbow surgery, which had already sidelined him for nearly a year.
According to a team update, Miley’s injury has been identified as a “lower body injury,” though no additional details have been released. Encouragingly, the Reds confirmed that the issue does not involve his surgically repaired pitching arm, a key relief given the fragility of a pitcher’s recovery timeline post-Tommy John surgery.
During his brief appearance, Miley faced three batters, retiring two and allowing a solo home run. The injury occurred during his second pitch to the cleanup hitter, just moments after the long ball. While the results were mixed, his command appeared sharper than in his previous rehab outing, offering a small positive amid the concerning news.
At 37 years old, Miley is attempting to resurrect his career after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure in May 2024 while with the Milwaukee Brewers. He signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati in the offseason and began his rehab stint with the Reds’ affiliate in Dayton earlier this week. That first outing, also against West Michigan, was rough—Miley allowed six runs on nine hits and hit a batter in 2.1 innings. Sunday’s setback now raises questions about the next steps in his return.
