Ryan Hanigan injury: Reds place catcher on disabled list

The Reds starting catcher has a sore thumb and hurt oblique muscle.

By Connor Moylan Apr 21, 2013, 5:00pm EDT

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The Cincinnati Reds have decided to place Ryan Hanigan on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain. The team purchased the contract of Corky Miller from Triple-A to replace Hanigan on the 25-man roster.

Reds manager Dusty Baker told the media that Hanigan hurt his oblique muscle Friday night against the Miami Marlins. The injury came on a play when the catcher had to reach for a high fastball thrown by Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning.

Hangian has also been battling a sore thumb, which caused him to miss a few games earlier this week. The veteran took a foul tip off his thumb on April 9 against the St. Louis Cardinals, and the injury worsened throughout the week.

Hanigan has really struggled to hit the ball so far this season. He is currently hitting .079/.182/.079 on the season, but has suffered some bad luck in his first 44 plate appearances, as his BABIP is currently .088.

Miller has been a journeyman catcher throughout his career, and has spent most of the past three seasons catching for the Reds Triple-A team. Miller has hit .188/.270/.300 in 575 career plate appearances. Devin Mesoraco can expect to receive most of the Reds' starts at catcher while Hanigan is on the disabled list.