Votto Back With the Reds in Toronto

Former Louisville Bat and current Cincinnati Reds great Joey Votto is ready to return to the Redlegs lineup.  Votto has rejoined the Reds in Toronto, and is expected to be activated from the DL for the start of a 3 game series against the Blue Jay’s  tonight.  Votto is a Toronto native and has been on the DL since May 30 with stress related issues.  Before his absence, Votto was batting a team high .357 with 33 RBI”s, eight home runs, and a .464 on base percentage.  Joey has played in three rehab games with Single-A Sarasota and Dayton.  He was 3-9 in his rehab stint with one home run.

The Red’s have struggled in Votto’s absence going 8-13 and seeing their record drop to .500.  Cincinnati currently sits in fourth place in the NL Central division, trailing the division leading St. Louis Cardinals by 3.5 games.  The Reds offense is among the cellar dwellers in all of baseball mainly due to the fact that they lack a run producing hitter.  Votto’s return gives the Red’s the power bat that they lack, and a solid run producing 3 hitter that they need.  The return of the Canadian should give the Reds the jump start that they desperately need. 

In other Reds news, Edwin Encarnacion has started his rehab assignment with AAA Louisville.  In two games thus far, Encarnacion is 1-5 including a 3-run jack last night agaisnt the Gwinnett Braves.  He has also walked twice and struck out twice.  Encarnacion has been on the DL since April 28 after chipping a bone in his left wrist against the Houston Astros.