Reds closer Emilio Pagan gets brutally honest after landing on IL

The Cincinnati Reds face a major bullpen setback after closer Emilio Pagan landed on the injured list with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The veteran reliever offered a candid reaction on Wednesday, revealing the frustration behind an injury that could keep him out for four to eight weeks.

The incident occurred Tuesday night at Wrigley Field during the Reds’ 3–2 loss vs. the Chicago Cubs. Pagan threw just one pitch before grabbing his left leg and collapsing on the mound, prompting trainers to assist him off the field as he struggled to put weight on the injury.

Further testing confirmed the severity of the strain, creating an immediate challenge for a Reds bullpen already searching for consistency. Cincinnati entered this stretch looking to regain momentum after going 7–8 over the club’s last 15 games following a strong 13–8 start to the season.

FOX19’s Charlie Goldsmith shared Pagan’s reaction on X, formerly Twitter, detailing the emotional toll the injury has taken on the reliever.

“He said that the hamstring hadn’t been comfortable over the last month, and he was getting treatment. But he felt like he was getting to the end of it until yesterday. He felt turning a corner. Also, he said he’ll pitch hurt. He wasn’t injured until yesterday.”

Emilio Pagán said he has a grade two hamstring strain and the timeline is four to eight weeks.

Initially, at first last night, he thought his season was done.

He said that the hamstring hadn’t been comfortable over the last month, and he was getting treatment. But he felt…

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) May 6, 2026

Goldsmith also noted that Pagan admitted he felt responsible for letting people down and expressed frustration about missing time with one of the worst injuries of his career.

The honesty from the flamethrowing right-hander offered a glimpse into the human side of the Reds’ clubhouse. Pagan had been managing discomfort for weeks and believed he was nearing recovery before the injury worsened.

Now, the Reds must quickly adjust without their closer. If Pagan misses the full recovery timeline, the Reds’ bullpen depth and late-inning structure could face a serious test throughout May and into June. Cincinnati may now need multiple relievers to absorb high-leverage innings while attempting to maintain stability during a critical stretch of the MLB season.

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