Joey Votto is moving a step closer to returning to the Cincinnati Reds' lineup.
Votto is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, serving as the team’s designated hitter. He took batting practice and ran the bases at Great American Ball Park beforehand.
He hit a home run to the batter’s eye on one of his first swings in his BP session, then finished it by hitting three consecutive line drives to virtually the same spot on the center-field wall.
“Right now, he’s just trying to get through some lingering pain of catching the baseball,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “But he’s been swinging the bat and everything. It’s good, because maybe he needs a few extra days because of the pain from catching, and it’ll allow him to get some at-bats. I think that’s a good thing. It’s getting close, though.”
Votto likely won’t rejoin the Reds until next week because he still needs to reach the point where he’s comfortable catching balls at first base. The Reds finish their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday and then travel to St. Louis for a four-game series this weekend.
He’s done some fielding drills at first base, mostly based around his footwork, but he hasn’t caught balls at first base yet.
“I don’t think he’s done much of it just because of the pain,” Bell said. “I do think that it’s healing and getting better each day. There’s also padding that can be created. It’s just not quite ready for the impact of game activity. You’re catching balls that are coming over at a high velocity. It’s just not quite ready for that yet.”
RE-OPENING DAY: Great American Ball Park will return to 100% capacity for Wednesday afternoon’s game. The Reds have dubbed it, “Re-Opening Day,” and were selling $5 tickets at the view level.
“The fans are a big part of baseball, even if they're talking mess or just having fun out there,” Amir Garrett said. “It's a big part of the sport. It's definitely something we miss. I can't wait to see everybody back at Great American Ball Park. Hopefully, that helps us, just having the full capacity of fans.”
The Reds played in front of a season-high 24,824 fans when they faced the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Wrigley Field moved to 60% capacity for the Reds’ series.
“All season at home, I’ve been just blown away by – even when we had smaller crowds at the beginning of the year and then it increased – it just always felt like more people than it actually is,” Bell said. “I just feel like it’s been great energy at our home ballpark. Maybe even the best I’ve felt. That makes it very exciting to think that there are going to be more people there.”
One thing that players noticed is that it seems like fans are more grateful to be inside the ballpark after a year away from games.
“I don’t know if people are just extra grateful to be outside and be around other people and watch baseball, maybe we forgot how special it is, but it’s definitely felt great all year,” Bell said. “It’s really a lot to look forward to here coming up with full capacity.”
Garrett added: “A full year of baseball not being able to sit in the stands, it does something to you a little bit. I can tell. When people get back together and are so happy to be back at the game, be around the players and stuff like that. It's going to be a fun time. I can't wait to see everyone at Great American.”
INJURY UPDATES: Aristides Aquino traveled to Louisville to begin his rehab assignment and will begin playing in games this week.
Aquino, on the 60-day injured list, is not eligible to return to the Reds until June 13. He had surgery in April to remove the hook of the hamate in his left hand.
“The timing could work out ideally for him,” Bell said. “And we don’t have to activate him on that day. The at-bats for him are maybe even more important. He’s missed more time.”
Jeff Hoffman, on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement, could begin throwing again later this month.
“He came in feeling good today,” Bell said. “I would say there’s a chance he could be starting a rehab assignment later this month if everything keeps going well. No surgery. All work he has to do to strengthen and stabilize his shoulder.”
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