Cincinnati Reds fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Closer Emilio Pagán, who left Tuesday night's game with a scare, is already showing positive signs of recovery. After appearing to tweak his left hamstring on the final pitch of a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, Pagán was back on the field playing catch on Wednesday.

The initial concern was palpable. "The worry was he’d show up this morning and be really sore," said Reds manager Terry Francona. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Pagán was able to throw aggressively on flat ground, a promising first step. The team will now monitor how he recovers from that activity.

Pagán described the moment of the injury, noting he felt his left leg "grab" on the final pitch to Giants' Daniel Susac. "I didn’t feel it pop or anything," he clarified. "It was a little uncomfortable." That discomfort was visible, as cameras caught him wincing after securing his fifth save of the season.

The timing of the scare is particularly notable given Pagán's recent form. Tuesday's outing extended his scoreless streak to six games and six innings, a period of lockdown pitching crucial for any contending team. His health is paramount to the Reds' bullpen stability.

While his availability for the next game was still being evaluated, the mood was optimistic. "Looking like we kind of dodged a bullet," Pagán said. For a Reds team counting on his late-inning prowess, that's the best news they could hope for as they navigate a long season.