No timetable set for Joey Votto return
Things have been pretty rough for the Cincinnati Reds this year. Battling between third and fourth place for the duration of the season, baseball’s oldest franchise has been crippled by injuries and bullpen woes. Their biggest star, Joey Votto, is now eligible to return from the disabled list, but there’s still no timetable for his return.
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Votto was placed on the DL with a quadriceps injury last week. According to Reds.com, Votto performed hit and run drills in Cincinnati on Friday. He did not travel with the team on their west coast road trip.
“The pain has declined, the strength is increasing. It’s not great yet but it’s increasing,” Reds trainer Paul Lessard said.
The team has seen Votto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman, Mat Latos, Tony Cingrani, Jonathon Broxton and Sean Marshall on the disabled list this season, among others. Leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton also missed a week of action, despite not being placed on the DL.
The Reds originally planned on waiting out the injury to Votto, and played short for several days before activating Jay Bruce to replace Votto. Since the injury, the Reds have had a host of players fill in at first base.
Reds ace Mat Latos should also soon be returning to the team, as he participated in a rehab start on Friday. Latos had been replaced in the Reds rotation by Alfredo Simon, who is likely to return to the bullpen upon Latos’ return.