Reds place first baseman Joey Votto on the COVID IL; timeline for Jonathan India

MILWAUKEE –– After Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto wrapped up the worst statistical month of his career, Votto was dealt another bad bounce. 

Before the Reds game on Tuesday, the Reds placed Votto on the COVID IL. Votto was initially in the Reds lineup for Tuesday’s game versus the Milwaukee Brewers, but he reported symptoms before the game.

Reds manager David Bell said Votto hasn’t tested positive for COVID-19, and there isn’t a minimum amount of days that Votto needs to miss.

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“We’re precautionary as far as being able to put him on that COVID IL, which is really a day-to-day thing until we know more,” Bell said.

Earlier this season, the Reds placed outfielders Tyler Naquin and Nick Senzel on the COVID IL. Naquin was out for five days, and Senzel was out for two days. Without Votto, the Reds had Colin Moran as their starting first baseman on Tuesday.

Votto went on the injured list with a .122 batting average, a .413 OPS and just one extra-base hit on the season. 

“I have extreme confidence that Joey is going to be fine, get going and have another outstanding season,” Bell said. “I was obviously disappointed that he wasn’t feeling well, he was in the original lineup. It’s just a matter of time. Today could have been the day. But when he comes back, he’ll be feeling better.”

JONATHAN INDIA UPDATE

Five days after he returned from the injured list, Reds second baseman Jonathan India went back on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring injury.

The Reds made the move on Sunday, and Bell said India will miss “a couple weeks” but not “four-to-six weeks.”

“It’s the same injury, but I’ve been assured that nothing he did while he was playing made it worse,” Bell said. He was trying to play through it, but it just wasn’t good enough to continue to play. Based on the information we had, he ran the risk of reinjury if he kept playing.”

The Reds currently have 13 players on the injured list, and most of the injuries have different causes. 

Tejay Antone had elbow surgery last season, Mike Minor (shoulder) and Justin Dunn (shoulder) had previous shoulder problems before joining the Reds, and Max Schrock (calf), Donovan Solano (hamstring) and India were injured running the bases.

Votto is on the COVID IL, Jake Fraley injured his knee and Jose Barrero had a wrist injury early in spring training. Luis Castillo (shoulder), Daniel Duarte (elbow), Justin Wilson (left flexor mass) and Nick Lodolo (lower right back) picked up injuries on the mound.

REDS ROSTER MOVES

The Reds activated catcher Tyler Stephenson from the concussion list and promoted infielder Alejo Lopez to the big league roster. The Reds currently have 12 position players on the active roster and 14 pitchers as rosters were reduced this week from 28 players to 26 players. 

The Reds optioned catcher Mark Kolozsvary, one of the team's top-30 prospects, to Triple-A. He opened the season in Double-A and made the jump to MLB when Stephenson went out. After he played in six MLB games, Kolozsvary was sent to Triple-A.

"He did a very great job," Bell said. "This time he got to get, (it was a) really a good experience for him to get in some games."