Cincinnati Reds activate Joey Votto – MLB News
The Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, September 4, activated the All-Star first baseman Joey Votto, a move that was being awaited eagerly. The National League MVP was missing from action after his July 17 surgery on his left knee followed by a procedure on August 10.
The most likely prospect of the first baseman’s appearance is on Wednesday. His name was considered for pinch hitter for Tuesday, but the decision was delayed for reasons explained by the team manager Dusty Baker.
For Baker, it is the player himself who has to decide how he feels and whether he can make an appearance.
"The plan could change every day depending on how he feels and how his body feels," Baker said. "As of right now, he will probably start [Wednesday]. Then we have to watch him if there's a long inning one way or the other, if he gets sore, if he makes a wrong move -- we're going to try to preserve him and work him back in there."
It was on July 15 that he was pulled off. The arthroscopic surgery followed to repair the torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee.
The team was expecting him to play in the mid-August. However, all that hopes dashed once the complication developed in knee, prompting the August 10 procedure. That was a setback for the player and the Reds.
Being activated now, Joey Votto is frank as far as the assessment over his likelihood of being 100 percent is concerned.
"I don't think I will see 100 percent until sometime during the offseason," Votto said. "I'm talking about being able to play baseball, being able to put myself in uncomfortable positions and I would like to think I would get through all the games.”
Nonetheless, the rehab games have not been particularly disappointing for the player. At Class-A Dayton, the player was good enough after which he played games for Triple A-Louisville.
Votto will keep his fingers crossed for a better playoff performance considering the importance he has in the team as far as the strength of the offence is concerned.
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