Zack Cozart Out for Remainder of the Season

 

 
The Cincinnati Reds and its fans went through a bit of a scare on Wednesday afternoon. Infielder Zack Cozart lead off the game against Phillies pitcher Jerome Williams, and hit the third pitch of the at bat into the hole at short. Phillies shortstop Caesar Hernandez then wound up fielding it and throws a dart to first to get Cozart by a step.
As Cozart took one long stride to try to beat the play, his foot appeared to slip off the bag and it looked as though he injured his right knee on the play. Cozart instantly went down to the ground holding the knee in pain. Reds’ training staff quickly rushed on to the field to attend to him, and after a brief examination, Cozart was carried off the field to the Reds clubhouse. 

After a MRI was done, tests revealed that he had suffered torn ligaments and tendons in his right knee which will keep him out for the rest of the season. Recovery time usually for an injury of that nature is around nine months. 

That is a huge blow for an already wounded Reds team with Cozart having a breakout season. His batting average was .258, along with 9 HRs and 28 RBI. Cozart is one of the NL’s top offensive shortstops, and leads the league in plenty of offensive categories at the position.

Reds manager Bryan Price will have to look to replace Cozart. Among the names will be Kristopher Negron and minor leaguer Eugenio Suarez. It will be a huge drop off in offensive production and Cozart will be missed at the top of the order as a table setter. Reds currently sit fourth in the NL Central 11.5 games behind the Cardinals with a 27-32 record.