Reds' Votto nearing spring debut

The Cincinnati Reds don't expect first baseman Joey Votto's absence from the spring training lineup to be an extended one, but his manager does plan on giving the four-time All-Star ample time to get in game shape before rushing him in the lineup.

"I don't anticipate it being in the middle of the schedule, it's really hard for me to say an exact date," Bryan Price told C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It really comes down to getting enough reps to where we're comfortable enough to put him out there and letting him play. It's not like we're going to see a huge separation between him and the rest of the guys."

Votto missed 100 games last season with a strained quad is scheduled to miss the Reds' Cactus League opener on Tuesday. 

"He's come this far, he's put in all the work to do this," Price said. "It just didn't make sense between the medical staff and myself until he gets as many ground balls and the opportunity to slide and cut and do all the drills and do all the things he wasn't able to do before he got to spring training."

On Monday, Votto said that he was surprised with how good his body is feeling and he believes he'll be playing games in the not to distant future.

The 31-year-old, whose under contract through the 2023 season, managed a disappointing .255/.390/.409 line with six home runs in 62 games last season.