24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jay Bruce has exploded in May for the Reds. He has played in 27 games so far in May and he is 37 for 107 (.346 avg, 1.164 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 12 homers and 32 RBIs. Bruce has now played in 52 games so far this year and he is 60 for 204 (.294 avg, .936 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 16 homers, 43 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has career highs of 80 runs scored, 25 homers, 70 RBIs and 5 stolen bases and he is likely to smash those totals in 2011 if he can stay healthy. It seems like Bruce is ready to turn into the superstar that many have forecasted for him.

The Reds have placed 27-year old righty pitcher Sam LeCure on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right forearm. LeCure has pitched in 12 games (4 starts) for the Reds so far this year and he is 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. The Reds have called up 28-year old lefty reliever Tom Cochran to replace LeCure on the pitching staff. Cochran has pitched in 8 games (4 starts) in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. This will be Cochran’s first taste of the majors.

UPDATE: (6/1/2011) - The Reds have designated Tom Cochran for assignment before he got a chance to get into a game with them.

The Cincinnati Reds have placed 25-year old righty starting pitcher Homer Bailey on the 15-day disabled list due to a right shoulder injury. Bailey has pitched in 5 games (all starts) for the Reds so far this year and he is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. This is a shame as Bailey was really pitching well for the Reds so far this year. The Reds have called up 23-year old righty Mike Leake to take over for Bailey in the rotation. He pitched in 10 games (7 starts) earlier this year for the Reds and he was 4-2 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. The Reds hope that Leake will pitch a little better for them this time around.

The Reds have placed 27-year old lefty reliever/starter Matt Maloney on the 15-day disabled list due to a oblique injury, retroactive to May 24th. Maloney has pitched in 6 games (1 start) for the Reds so far this year and he is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. He has given up 24 hits (4 homers) in 15 innings this year so he hasn’t been missing many bats. The Reds have called up 25-year old righty starting pitcher Daryl Thompson to replace Maloney on the pitching staff. Thompson has pitched in 9 games (all starts) in AA-ball this year and he is 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. His only experience with the Reds came back in 2008 when he started 3 games in which he was 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. Thompson came into this year as the Reds’ #27 prospect, so the Reds are expecting more out of him this time around.

The Reds have acquired 26-year old righty starting pitcher Brandon Hynick from the White Sox for cash considerations. Hynick has pitched in 8 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball so far this year and he is 1-5 with a 8.27 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. He has now pitched in 125 games (124 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 46-34 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Hynick will provide organizational depth but he could get to Cincy at some point this year if he gets his act back together.