Joey Votto begins fielding ground balls

Reds first baseman Joey Votto added fielding ground balls to his baseball activities Wednesday, MLB.com reports. He's eligible to come off the disabled list Sept. 4 but may have trouble being ready to go on a rehab assignment before the end of the minor-league season.

"I'd hate to say there's no chance, but I think because we're initiating baby steps that ... I don't know if he'll be ready by Sept. 4 or not. I have no idea. I really don't," manager Bryan Price said. "It's been a real gradual recovery, and it's an injury that needs -- more than anything, beyond strengthening and therapy -- it needs time to recover. ... We just haven't been able to force the recovery faster. There's just no quick fix to this quad problem to where he can play on it with the stability that's needed."

Votto remains without a timetable to rejoin the Reds.