MLB Player News

Reds first baseman Joey Votto turned in an impressive performance during batting practice Friday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

While the team has yet to re-evaluate his injury, it's a good sign Votto performed well during part of his workout. Teammates apparently look notice of his batting practice, admiring a long home run to right. Votto has been sidelined with a knee issue, and could be close to a return.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto will go through another full workout Friday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Votto was able to get through a workout Thursday, and the team will see how he can handle two days of work. He'll be re-evaluated Friday night. Votto is attempting to come back from a knee issue. He hit .257/.410/.449 in 136 at-bats prior to the injury.

The Marlins got big performances out of two rookies Thursday against the Rays, as catcher Jacob Realmuto and first baseman Justin Bour combined for four hits in their respective major-league debuts in an 11-6 win.

Realmuto stood out, despite batting eighth in his first game. He drove in three runs with a 2-for-4 game, with one RBI single in the fourth and another in the sixth inning. Bour batted ahead of him and drove in one run of his own, while finishing the game 2 for 5. 

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was able to get through fielding drills Thursday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Votto also took batting practice. He will get in some work with the major-league club before he's activated. Votto will likely need a short rehab stint in order to shake off the rust after his layoff. The club has not yet announced dates for a possible rehab stint. 

Marlins infielder Donovan Solano went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in his team's 5-4 win over the Rays Wednesday.

Solano's third-inning blast was his first home run of the season and put his team up for good Wednesday. He was making his first start since April 22 after serving as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement all through May. Solano has hit .231/.268/.308 with six RBI in 39 at-bats.

What was expected has become official: Justin Bour has been promoted by the Marlins from Triple-A New Orleans.

The first baseman certainly earned the callup with a stat line of .330/.407/.562 with nine homers and 36 RBI in 203 at-bats.

Bour, who just turned 26 years old last week, has yet to play in a major league game.

The Marlins are expected to select the contract of first baseman Justin Bour from Triple-A New Orleans Wednesday, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Bour would take the roster spot opened up by sending infielder Derek Dietrich down.

Bour is hitting .330 with nine home runs for the Zephyrs. He was selected in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft this year. 

Reds first baseman Joey Votto didn't take part in the team's pregame workout Tuesday, but not because he suffered a setback in his strained left quadriceps.

Votto, who was expected to take part in batting practice as well as other on-field activities Tuesday, could not do so as rain swept into the area. Batting practice was cut short, and Votto was unable to take groundballs or run the bases due to the weather.

In spit of that, he told MLB.com he feels like he is past the injury, and now has the strength back in his leg. He has been out since May 15 as a result of the injury.

"I feel like I was before I got hurt earlier in the season," he said. "If I can get to a good place, you're going to see a little bit more of the younger version of me."

Votto is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment once he can hit, field and run without trouble. He will need at least a few games in the minors before he can return to action. 

For the first time all season, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was not in the lineup Tuesday. That snaps his streak of 59 straight starts, one shy of Travis Lee's team record for first basemen set in 1998.

Goldschmidt is hitting .299 with 10 homers, 22 doubles and 38 RBI.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto will go through a full practice routine with the team Tuesday, reports MLB.com. It's a good sign for Votto, who's been out since May 15 with a quad injury and coudl start a rehab assignment this week.