Votto (shoulder/biceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Votto started his initial rehab assignment in early April, but it quickly became obvious his surgically repaired left shoulder and bicep weren't ready. The veteran first baseman has been ramping up his workouts in recent weeks and now feels ready to give it another shot. How many games he might need isn't yet clear, but a lengthy rehab stint seems probable. Once he's deemed ready, Votto figures to be used both at first base and designated hitter.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Reports improvement
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Votto (shoulder) said Monday that the difference in how he feels now and when he was shut down is "incomparable," C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Votto is back to taking live batting practice and will continue to do so as he ramps things back up. While he is not quite game-ready yet, he wouldn't appear to be too far off from re-starting a rehab assignment if things continue to progress in the right direction.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Could begin rehab assignment soon
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Votto (shoulder) is taking a live batting practice session with Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The Reds and Votto will then determine the next steps for the first baseman, and it's possible that next step could be a rehab assignment. The left-handed hitter is currently on the 60-day injured list and can't be activated until May 30. If he does begin a rehab assignment in the coming days, Votto has a chance to return to the lineup at the end of May, but his timetable should begin to clear up in the coming days.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Reds transferred Votto (shoulder/biceps) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Matt McLain, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville ahead of Monday's game against the Rockies. Votto took live batting practice at Triple-A over the weekend, which signifies that he could be close to resuming a rehab assignment. As a result of his move to the 60-day IL, Votto won't be eligible to make his 2023 debut with the Reds until May 30.
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Reds' Joey Votto: To take live BP at Triple-A
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Reds manager David Bell said Thursday that Votto (shoulder) will begin taking live batting practice this weekend at Triple-A Louisville, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
It's not an actual minor-league rehab assignment just yet, but that could happen sometime next week if Votto looks good in during the weekend workouts against live pitching. He tried a rehab stint with Louisville in April but went 7-for-38 (.184) with 21 strikeouts in 10 games while also struggling defensively. The veteran first baseman is on the road back from surgery last August to repair tears in his left rotator cuff and biceps muscle.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Still no timetable for rehab
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Votto (shoulder) said Wednesday that there is still no timetable for when he might begin another minor-league rehab assignment, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Votto called it a day-to-day situation as he continues to work on his offense and defense in the Cincinnati area. The 39-year-old batted just .184/.289/.316 with 21 strikeouts over 45 plate appearances during a 10-game rehab assignment last month at Triple-A Louisville. He also had trouble picking balls at first base due to a lack of extension in his surgically-repaired left biceps and shoulder. "I'll make the decision the day before and just head down there," Votto said of the timing for a second rehab stint. "I don't really want to say anything. I want to come back and bring joy and optimism and be a part of it."
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Reds' Joey Votto: Shoulder not ready
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Votto's surgically-repaired right shoulder is "not allowing him to be physically able to do the things he needs to do at the plate," Reds manager David Bell told Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer on Monday.
Votto had to be pulled off a rehab assignment earlier this month after "it became pretty clear after that that it was rushed," per Bell. The skipper added that Votto remains "way ahead of schedule" of where most players would be at this point and simply needs more time. He worked out at Great American Ball Park on Monday and will continue to go through drills until the Reds decide he's ready to re-start a rehab assignment.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Hits on field Monday
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Votto (shoulder/biceps) did some hitting on the field at Great American Ball Park on Monday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Reds manager David Bell noted that there's no real change in Votto's status, so it remains unclear when he'll be ready to resume a rehab assignment. Votto was pulled off his initial rehab assignment earlier this month because his 20-day rehab window was running out and he wasn't ready to rejoin the major-league roster. He went 7-for-38 (.184 average) with three extra-base hits while striking out in 46.7 percent of his plate appearances over his 10-game assignment with Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Joey Votto: No timetable for second rehab
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Reds manager David Bell said Thursday that there is no set date for Votto (shoulder/biceps) to resume a rehab assignment, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Votto was pulled off his rehab stint Saturday after batting just .184/.289/.316 with 21 strikeouts through 45 plate appearances at Triple-A Louisville. He's currently working out in Cincinnati as he tries to recapture some semblance of timing at the dish. The 39-year-old underwent surgery last August to repair tears in his left rotator cuff and left biceps muscle.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Pulled off rehab assignment
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Votto (shoulder/biceps) has been pulled off his minor-league rehab assignment.
Votto hasn't suffered a setback, but his 20-day rehab window was running out and the Reds will bring him back to Cincinnati to continue ramping up with simulated workouts. The veteran first baseman was slashing just .184/.289/.316 with 21 strikeouts through 45 plate appearances at Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Struggling during rehab assignment
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Votto (shoulder/biceps) has gone 4-for-32 with three walks and 20 strikeouts through the first eight games of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville.
Votto hasn't suffered any reported setbacks with his surgically repaired left shoulder or biceps since beginning the rehab assignment April 1, but he's clearly struggling to get his timing back at the plate. Elite plate discipline and stellar bat-to-ball skills have been foundational traits for Votto throughout his career, so it's especially troubling that he's struck out in 55.6 percent of his plate appearances at Triple-A thus far. Votto was initially expected to return from the 10-day injured list when he was first eligible April 6, but his activation looks as though it'll be delayed until he can show some semblance of progress during his rehab assignment.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Unlikely to return Thursday
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Reds manager David Bell said Votto (shoulder) is unlikely to be activated when first eligible Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Votto began a minor-league rehab assignment over the weekend at Triple-A Louisville, but he still has some work to do as he completes his recovery from August 2022 shoulder surgery. The new target for his 2023 debut might be early next week.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Begins rehab assignment
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Votto (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Votto entered spring behind schedule as he worked his way back from August shoulder surgery. He evidently wasn't behind by a large margin, as he seemingly has a chance to return from the injured list when first eligible.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Moves to 10-day IL
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The Reds placed Votto (shoulder/biceps) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Votto is expected to report to Triple-A Louisville on Friday to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, and he could be activated off the IL as soon as he's first eligible in early April. Cincinnati just wanted to slow-play his recovery from surgery last August to repair a torn left rotator cuff and torn left biceps muscle.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Ticketed for IL
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Reds manager David Bell confirmed Monday that Votto (shoulder/biceps) will open the season on the 10-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Though Votto made a push late in spring training to be ready to go for Opening Day, the Reds will ultimately give him more time to build up after he underwent surgery last August to repair a torn left rotator cuff and a torn left bicep. Votto hasn't hit any reported snags in his recovery since making his Cactus League debut March 12, so he should be ready to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin a rehab assignment Friday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Tyler Stephenson and Wil Myers both made multiple starts at first base during Cactus League play and should serve as the primary replacements at the position until Votto is cleared to return from the IL.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Could open season on injured list
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Votto (shoulder/biceps) said prior to Saturday's Cactus League game that he could open the 2023 season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I just want to make sure I'm clear: This is a performance-based game," Votto said. "You have to do your job. And I can't come back early, tank and embarrass our organization. I have to come back, perform well and be healthy."
Votto has been able to play for two weeks in the Cactus League after recovering from a torn rotator cuff and left biceps surgery that ended his 2023 season. As Nightengale notes, however, Votto is still in the process of reaching enough at-bats and defensive innings to feel comfortable enough for the beginning of the season. Votto should thus be in line for a short stint on the IL if he isn't cleared to break camp with the big club, but the assumption that he would be ready for the start of the season may have been slightly premature.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Will play deeper into spring games
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Votto will play deeper into spring games as the Cactus League progresses, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Votto was able to make his spring debut Sunday, and the Reds have understandably monitored his reps as he is returning from a torn rotator cuff and left biceps injury that ended his 2022 season prematurely. The former MVP should be ready for Opening Day, and likely will see most of his playing time as the starting first baseman for the Reds.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Making spring debut Sunday
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Votto is hitting second and playing first base Sunday in a Cactus League game against the Dodgers.
It will be the first appearance of the spring for Votto, as the veteran first baseman has been brought along slowly after missing the end of the 2022 campaign with a torn rotator cuff and a left bicep injury. The 39-year-old is not the fantasy stalwart he once was, but his fantastic approach at the plate still should allow him to get on base at a solid clip, and hitting near the top of the Reds' lineup does give him the opportunity to help in the runs category.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Appears in minor-league spring game
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Votto (shoulder/biceps) saw plate appearances Friday in a minor-league game, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
In one of the plate appearances, Votto was able to draw one of his trademark walks. The former MVP is working his way back from surgery to repair his left bicep along with a torn rotator cuff in August. There's still no timetable as to when Votto will be able to rejoin the Reds, but it's a positive development that he's getting action against live pitching at this point in the spring.
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Reds' Joey Votto: Return date remains uncertain
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Votto (shoulder/biceps) continues to look good while going through long daily batting practice sessions and taking defensive reps at first base, but there's still no timetable for him to see spring training game action, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The longer Votto remains out of game action, the more likely it is that he'll begin the regular season on the IL. While he has been out, the Reds have split first base duties between Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jason Vosler. Interestingly enough, Wil Myers hasn't yet played first base, spending his time instead in right field this spring.
