Reds reinstate Votto from IL
The Cincinnati Reds reinstated first baseman Joey Votto from the injured list ahead of Monday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, the club announced.
The six-time All-Star is in the Reds' lineup for Monday's game. He's batting sixth and playing first base.
Votto hasn't played for Cincinnati since undergoing shoulder surgery last August.
He announced his impending return Saturday with his trademark sense of humor on full display.
The 39-year-old hit .167 with two home runs and five RBIs in 11 games with Triple-A Louisville on his rehab assignment.
"Health has been an issue, and I'm back to full health," Votto said Monday, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
The Reds are the hottest club in baseball. They're coming off a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champion Houston Astros and have won eight consecutive games.
Votto is in the final guaranteed season of a 10-year, $225-million contract. The Reds hold a $20-million option for the 2024 campaign with a $7-million buyout.
The Reds placed right-hander Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list with right hip pain and designated right-hander Kevin Herget for assignment in corresponding moves.