Reds closer Emilio Pagán motivated by playoff goals to return early
"I feel like I'm letting a lot of people down," said Reds closer Emilio Pagán, who's expected to miss 4-to-8 weeks for a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
CHICAGO – Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán said the emotions flooded his mind Tuesday night as he rode on a cart that carried him from the field after suffering a painful pop in his hamstring. “I thought my season was done,” he said. It made the diagnosis Wednesday, May 6 of a Grade 2 strain at least more palatable, knowing he should be back this season, maybe before the All-Star break.
But he still talked like a guy struggling to shake a sense of responsibility to a team that expects to be in play for a division title and that talks even more confidently about a second straight playoff berth. “I feel like I’m letting a lot of people down,” said Pagán, who felt the left hamstring pop on the first pitch he threw in the ninth inning of a 2-2 game Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. “Obviously, the organization, front office, management invested a lot in me to be here,” he said.
“I believe in myself. I’m very confident in myself. That’s why I wanted to try and push through this to try and help the team win as many games as possible.
” This is the kind of mindset that has made the veteran right-hander a valued mentor in the bullpen and clubhouse since joining the club in 2024, a mindset that includes a personal stake in teammates and the playoff vision that seemed to resonate when they talked about the person they were losing to the injured list as much as the pitcher. “He was so emotional he’s apologizing,” manager Terry Francona said of Pagán’s reaction after falling to the grass, clutching his hamstring in pain, and punching the ground Tuesday night. “It’s kind of amazing how quickly you go from knowing what the score is to, ‘We’ve got to take care of this kid,’ “ Francona said.