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The Cincinnati Reds have activated catcher Ryan Hanigan and placed him in the starting lineup for Friday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The team designated Corky Miller for assignemnt to clear room for Hanigan.
Hanigan has not played since April 20, when he strained an oblique lunging for an Aroldis Chapman fastball. The catcher was also battling a bruised thumb after being hit by a foul tip earlier in the month against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The catcher struggled in his first 44 plate appearances this season, hitting .079/.182.079. Hanigan was still able to make contact at the plate and draw walks despite his ineffectiveness, so it appears he is due for some better BABIP fortune. The 32 year-old has little power but manages to get on base at an above-average clip.
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Cincinnati designated the veteran catcher Miller for assignment, giving other team's a chance to claim him on waivers. Miller caught six games in Hanigan's absence, hitting .125/.300./.125 in 20 plate appearances. The journeyman catcher is solid defensively, but has never been able to handle the bat well enough to earn sustained playing time at the major-league level.
Devin Mesoraco has been the team's starting catcher in Hanigan's absence. Mesoraco has also struggled at the plate this season, hitting .226/.324/.339 after 74 plate appearances.
