Ryan Hanigan injury: Reds catcher misses game with sore thumb

Hanigan has been bothered by the injury since taking a foul ball off his thumb last week.

By Connor Moylan Apr 20, 2013, 7:00pm EDT

Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan was held out of Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins with a sore thumb, an injury that has bothered him over a week.

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Hanigan, who almost always catches for Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo, took a foul-tip off the thumb on April 9 against the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran received an MRI on his thumb, which revealed no serious damage to the finger.

Despite the the MRI, Hanigan has only played in one of the Reds past four games, with Devin Mesoraco starting in his place for Cincinnati. Hanigan is unsure when he will be able to return to the lineup, as Hanigan told Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans that his thumb is "getting worse, not better."

Hanigan has had a miserable start to the season at the plate, as he is currently hitting .079/..182/.079 in 44 plate appearances. The catcher has still shown above-average plate discipline and contact skills, but cannot buy a hit, as his BABIP sits at .088.

Mesoraco, who became the first catcher besides Hanigan to catch an Arroyo start since Sept 27, 2011, has been adequate in Hanigan's absence. The 24 year-old, who has struggled mightily at the plate in his two previous stints in the major leagues, is currently hitting .235/.391/.412.