Reds’ Belinda Has Multiple Sclerosis

Cincinnati relief pitcher Stan Belinda has been diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, the Reds announced Monday.

The diagnosis was made by Dr. John Noseworthy of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He concluded that Belinda was in the early stages of multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease.

“Because it was detected in the early stages, with aggressive treatment Stan is expected to be able to resume his baseball career in spring training 1999,” Red General Manager Jim Bowden said.

Belinda and his family said they will not be available for comment until pitchers report to the Reds’ camp in Sarasota, Fla., in February.

Belinda was on the disabled list from June 3 to July 8 with inflammation in the spinal cord, which caused numbness in his leg.

After being reactivated, he made 14 appearances but was put back on the disabled list on Aug. 10 and has undergone a series of tests since then.

Belinda, 32, appeared in 40 games for the Reds. He was 4-8 with a 3.23 ERA and one save in 61 1/3 innings.