Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto will not return to play until he can do everything necessary, including sliding.
Votto injured his knee sliding in July. That required surgery on July 17. He had a smaller procedure after re-injuring the knee Wednesday — in a sliding drill.
“I’m not going to come back until I can do everything as a ballplayer,” he said. “I’m not comfortable coming back and not being able to play defense or break up a double play. I’m responsible for myself once I step on the field. If I can’t take a guy out and it costs us a run, that’s something I’d have a hard time looking at teammates in the eyes. I’m accountable for myself as a player. When I come back, I will be.”
Votto has been limited to pool work since re-injuring the knee Wednesday in Milwaukee.
“It’s totally different,” he said. “The first time, it probably took me a week and a half to get where I am right now. It was very simple procedure. I feel OK. It’s just frustrating. That’s probably the hardest part.”
The second injury will delay Votto’s return by a week to 10 days, the club said. Votto is not putting any timetable on a return.
“I don’t want to put a schedule on it,” he said. “I’d love to play tonight or tomorrow, but that’s definitely not going to happen. I want to be healthy the next time I go out there. I’m happy that the team has been playing extremely well.”