UPDATE: Cozart will miss the rest of the 2015 season with torn knee ligaments, according to the Cincinnati Reds' Twitter account.
UPDATE: Zack Cozart underwent an MRI and the team is waiting for the results. He's expected to be placed on the 15-day disabled list, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
News around the MLB has been plentiful this afternoon. The San Diego Padres demoted one of their highly paid players and the Cincinnati Reds may lose their starting shortstop for an extensive period of time.
Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports' HardballTalk reports Padres' second baseman Jedd Gyorko has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday. The 26-year-old is in the first year of a five-year, $35 million contract extension he signed with San Diego at the beginning of the 2014 season. He's batting just .210/.282/.311 with 9 runs scored, 2 home runs and 11 RBIs in 46 games this season.
Gyorko logged an impressive rookie season back in 2013 and batted .249/.301/.444 with 62 runs scored, 23 home runs and 63 RBIs in 125 games with the Pads. At the time, that was apparently all general manager Jeff Byrnes needed to see. However, Gyorko dealt with injuries for much of 2014 and batted just .210/.280/.333 with 37 runs scored, 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in 111 games. Byrnes was then fired last June after the team started 32-44.
Manager Bud Black has clearly preferred a combination of Yangervis Solarte and Corey Spangenberg at second base for much of the season and has rolled with Spangenberg as of late. This also may not be the last of the moves the Padres make in their infield because previous rumors determined general manager A.J. Preller is still looking to make trades before the deadline.
In Cincinnati, the Reds may also be active at the trade deadline, but for different reasons. After a bad start to the 2015 season followed by injuries to starters Homer Bailey, Devin Mesoraco and Marlon Byrd, it's been said the Reds could be sellers in late July. Well, they can add another injury to that list, which will promote more speculation of the team's plans.
Starting shortstop Zack Cozart appeared to have severely injured his right knee during today's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Robert Bondy of MLB.com. He was attempting to beat out a ground ball, but his foot slipped off first base and he fell to the ground, immediately grabbing his knee and wincing in pain. He didn't put any weight on his leg and was helped off the field by the team's medical staff.
This would be another significant loss for the Reds, who already trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 10.5 games for first place in the NL Central. Cozart is one of the top shortstops in the NL and is batting .259/.311/.461 with 28 runs scored, 9 home runs and 28 RBIs this season.
Cincinnati was also without outfielder Billy Hamilton and second baseman Brandon Phillips today because the two are day-to-day with minor injuries, further proving the Reds have had much trouble staying healthy.
The Reds will be in even more trouble if Cozart's injury turns out to be serious.
