ATLANTA – Cincinnati Reds reliever Tony Santillan underwent surgery Thursday (Sept. 24) to remove a bone protrusion from his left hip, which appears to be at least close to a best-case scenario for his recovery and long-term prognosis.
Santillan, a key workhorse performer in last year's playoff bullpen before struggling this year, went on the injured list over the weekend, more than a week after first experiencing the hip pain.
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Reds manager Terry Francona said Santillan will be on crutches for about a month before progressing to the next stage of recovery.

The severity of Santillan's injury wasn't known until doctors went into the area to assess the damage.
The labral repair to the hip involved removing a cam lesion, which is essentially a bone spur near the join that causes impingement.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is closing in on 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases this season. Here are some of our favorite photos that illustrate his speed and strength.

De La Cruz hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park.

De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in July.

Elly De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in June.

De La Cruz launches a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in May.

De La Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in April.

De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in March.

De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in July 2025.

De La Cruz hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T-Mobile Park in April 2024.

De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning of against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park in April 2024.

De La Cruz hits a home run during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in 2023.

De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.

De La Cruz rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.

De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023.

De La Cruz hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023. It was the first of his major-league career.

De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in September.

Elly De La Cruz heads to second on a stolen base against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in September.

De La Cruz steals third base against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park in 2023.

De La Cruz steals third base in the eighth inning of a game with the Washington Nationals in March 2024.

De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in 2024.

De La Cruz steals third base as the Phillies' Edmundo Sosa attempts to stop him in 2024.

De La Cruz steals second base in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in June 2025.

De La Cruz steals second base in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.

De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in July 2024.

De La Cruz (44) dives across home plate on a steal attempt in 2024.

De La Cruz loses his helmet as he dives in safely, stealing third, in 2025.

De La Cruz steals third base in 2023.

De La Cruz runs to third base during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2023.

De La Cruz slides into second for a double in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.

De La Cruz slides into third base for an RBI triple in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is closing in on 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases this season. Here are some of our favorite photos that illustrate his speed and strength.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is closing in on 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases this season. Here are some of our favorite photos that illustrate his speed and strength.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in July.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Elly De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in June.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz launches a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in May.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in April.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in March.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in July 2025.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T-Mobile Park in April 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning of against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park in April 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023. It was the first of his major-league career.

Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in September.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Elly De La Cruz heads to second on a stolen base against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in September.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park in 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base in the eighth inning of a game with the Washington Nationals in March 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base as the Phillies' Edmundo Sosa attempts to stop him in 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in June 2025.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in July 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz (44) dives across home plate on a steal attempt in 2024.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz loses his helmet as he dives in safely, stealing third, in 2025.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base in 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz runs to third base during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2023.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz slides into second for a double in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.

Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz slides into third base for an RBI triple in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.
Santillan, who also spent close to two months on the injured list this season because of an oblique strain, had a 6.42 ERA in 44 appearances this season with five blown saves in 10 chances.
He had a 2.44 ERA in 80 games last year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds RHP Tony Santillan has hip surgery to remove bone spur

