CINCINNATI -- The Reds received a huge blow on Monday, when they learned that their best player, first baseman Joey Votto, has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will need arthroscopic surgery.
Votto, who will miss three to four weeks, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. The club will announce a corresponding roster move Tuesday.
Votto originally injured his knee sliding into third base during a June 29 game in San Francisco and missed two games. He was 9-for-32 (.281) since he returned on July 3 and also went 0-for-3 while starting last week's All-Star Game in Kansas City. While he was 2-for-3 in Sunday's 4-2 Reds win over the Cardinals, he was a combined 0-for-8 in the first two games of the series.
The 28-year-old Votto underwent a MRI exam Monday, which confirmed the tear.
Votto was examined during the team's West Coast trip but never got the MRI before Monday.
Jocketty acknowledged that Votto could have kept playing with the tear, but that it didn't make sense in the big picture. Votto confirmed that sentiment via a statement issued by the team.
The Reds, who entered the night winners of six straight games and had a one-game lead over the Pirates for first place in the National League Central, haven't been super sound offensively even with Votto's presence. They came into the day ranked 10th in the NL with a .249 team average and much of the lineup, with the exception of Votto, has struggled to drive in runners in scoring position.
To take Votto's roster spot, the Reds could summon veteran switch-hitter Dioner Navarro. Although not on the 40-man roster, Navarro entered the day batting .339 at Triple-A Louisville. Xavier Paul, who was signed to a Minor League deal over the weekend, began Monday batting .323 and hits left-handed.
But the hottest-hitting option at Louisville could be recent arrival Henry Rodriguez, who is on the 40-man roster. Rodriguez, a 22-year-old who plays second base and third base and is a switch-hitter, was also batting .339 this season but has only nine games logged at the Triple-A level.
With the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaching, Jocketty felt no extra urgency to replace Votto's bat specifically via a deal.
No matter how you slice it, no replacement can make up for the loss of Votto, who won the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player Award. He entered the day leading the Majors with 36 doubles, the NL with 66 walks and was in the top 10 in almost every statistical category this season. He also was a team-best .371 hitter with runners in scoring position.
The Reds will now face their biggest test of the season of trying to get by without Votto.
No comments:
Post a Comment