CINCINNATI -- Billy Hamilton's fractured thumb might not be a season-ending injury, manager Bryan Price said.
The center fielder was hurt trying to bunt in Wednesday afternoon's 7-1 victory over the Brewers. The Reds put Hamilton on the 10-day disabled list.
WATCH injury video at mlb.com
"He'll be in a splint for 10 days, and then we'll reassess," Price said, according to Reds.com. "This is not necessarily a season-ending injury. It's not something that will sit in a cast for 4-6 weeks to heal. It will be about 10 days, and we'll be able to get the splint off and reassess."
Hamilton was hurt in the first inning when a 93-mph pitch from Matt Garza appeared to hit his thumb while he gripped the bat. Hamilton finished his at-bat by flying out to left field.
Hamilton played the field for two more innings but he came out for pinch-hitter Phillip Ervin in the bottom of the third. Ervin then replaced Hamilton in center field.
Hamilton leads the majors with 58 steals - nine ahead of Miami's Dee Gordon. He is batting .249/.300/.334 with four home runs and 37 RBI.
The Reds swept the Brewers behind rookie right-hander Luis Castillo, who set a career high with 10 strikeouts and allowed just four hits in eight innings in his final start. The Reds are shutting down Castillo, who started the season with Double-A Pensacola, to limit his innings.
“He was extremely dominant,” Price said. “He limited their ability to get the barrel of the bat on the ball.”
Castillo (3-7) retired 11 straight batters in one stretch and 22 of the last 24. He didn't walk anybody and wound up with a 3.12 ERA in 15 starts.
Castillo figures to compete for rotation spot next season even if Homer Bailey, Anthony Desclafani and Brandon Finnegan are healthy.
“He has good stuff, of course,” Price said. “We knew that. He’s a tough kid who has tremendous confidence. How many guys can come up from Double-A and do what he’s done? He is only 3-7, but he kept us in every game and that’s important.”
Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza homered for the Reds.
It was the Reds' sixth win in nine games.
