Votto to rehab in Dayton

DAYTON, Ohio - Cincinnati Reds all-star first baseman Joey Votto is scheduled to begin a two-day major league injury rehabilitation assignment for the Dayton Dragons on Tuesday, August 28 when the Dragons host the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Field.  Votto is also scheduled to play for the Dragons on Wednesday, August 29.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on both nights.

Votto is currently on the Reds disabled list and has not appeared in a major league game since July 15 due to a left knee injury.  He is batting .342 with 14 home runs and 49 runs batted in for the Reds this season.  Votto, the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player, started the All-Star Game for the National League.  

Votto played for the Dragons in 2003 and 2004, appearing in 171 games over those two seasons.  His best season with the Dragons came in ’04 when he batted .302 with 14 homers and 73 RBI in 111 games.  Votto returned to the Dragons on a two-game injury rehabilitation assignment in 2009 and belted a home run on his first swing.

In 2010, Votto won the National League MVP with one of the greatest seasons in Reds history.  He batted .324 with 37 home runs and 113 RBI.  Votto joined George Foster, Frank Robinson, and Ted Kluszewski as the only players in Reds history to hit at least .320 with at least 30 homers and 100 RBI.  In 2011, Votto finished sixth in the N.L. MVP voting, batting .309 with 29 homers and 103 RBI.  He also won the National League Gold Glove award as the league’s top fielding first baseman.

Over his first five seasons in the big leagues, Votto has become one of only nine players in major league history to hit at least .313 with at least 119 home runs and at least 400 RBI.

Votto will become the fifth major league player to play for the Dragons this season on an injury rehabilitation assignment.  Infielder Miguel Cairo was the first, followed by relief pitcher Bill Bray, outfielder Drew Stubbs, and reliever Nick Masset.