CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart, who is having a breakout season offensively, left Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies with an apparent left knee injury after attempting to beat out a ground ball in the first inning.
Cozart grounded deep to shortstop and lunged to beat the throw from Cesar Hernandez leading off the first. Cozart fell to the ground holding his left knee and was helped off the field by the training staff.
Cozart is batting .259 with nine home runs, which ranks second among National League shortstops. He has driven in 28 runs in 52 games with 10 doubles and a triple.
The Reds’ infield already is thin with second baseman Brandon Phillips out of the lineup Wednesday with a strained left groin. Phillips is day-to-day. In addition, center fielder Billy Hamilton is resting a sore wrist and left fielder Marlon Byrd is on the disabled list.
Cozart, an exceptional defensive shortstop, is coming off his worst offensive season in which he hit .221 with four homers and 38 RBIs.
If Cozart’s injury requires a lengthy recovery, Cincinnati has 23-year old shortstop Eugenio Suarez waiting in the wings. He was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in an offseason trade involving right-hander Alfredo Simon. Suarez currently is hitting .256 at Triple-A Louisville with 11 errors in 57 games, but with an on-base percentage of .348.
