The Reds have placed 28-year old lefty swinging outfielder Chris Dickerson on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right wrist. Dickerson has played in 20 games this season for the Reds and he is 10 of 44 (.227 avg, .540 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 3 RBIs. He has been totally overmatched at the plate this season as he has whiffed 19 times already. The Reds have called up 25-year old righty swinging outfielder Chris Heisey who came into this season as their #4 rated prospect according to Baseball America. Heisey has played in 20 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 19 of 79 (.241 avg, .737 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 4 homers, 13 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 476 games in his five years in the minors in which he is 524 of 1,772 (.296 avg, .825 OPS) with 297 runs scored, 51 homers, 239 RBIs and 88 stolen bases. The Reds should just make sure that they give Heisey a lot of P.T. while he is up with them as they aren’t getting a ton of production from the outfield anyway.

22-year old righty starting pitcher Mike Leake was the #3 rated prospect of the Reds heading into this season according to Baseball America. He pitched so well in spring training that he didn’t pitch one day in the minors going right from Arizona State University to the Cincinnati Reds pitching mound. He has started 4 games for the Reds so far this season and he is 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. His only real issue so far this season has been his control as he has walked 15 batters in 27 2/3 innings pitched this year. It Leake tightens up his control just a tad the Reds might be a surprise team in the N.L. Central this season.

Many questioned the trade that brought in Scott Rolen last season from the Blue Jays. But this season Rolen is quieting the critics in Cincy so far. Rolen has played in 15 games for the Reds this season and he is 15 of 53 (.283 avg, .970 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 5 homers and 8 RBIs. Rolen has also been really picky at what he has been swinging at as he has walked 7 times while whiffing 5 times this season which means that his batting average will probably be around .300 at the end of the year if he keeps that up. Rolen is a really good defensive player and his shoulder must be feeling good because it looks like his power is coming back. Rolen’s health is a huge key for the Reds to have success this season.

The Reds have lost 26-year old lefty reliever Pedro Viola on waivers to the Orioles. Viola pitched in 1 game in AAA this season working a scoreless inning in which he didn’t allow any baserunners. Viola pitched in 9 games (0 starts) in his first major league action last season with the Reds and he was 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Reds are well stocked with lefty arms for this season which is likely why Viola was let go but they might regret it someday.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Edison Volquez has been suspended by major league baseball for 50 games for testing positive for using performance enhancing drugs. Volquez is currently on the D.L. as he is recovering from Tommy John Surgery but his suspension will start immediately. He was likely to be out until some time in July so he will serve all of his suspension while rehabbing which isn’t much of a penalty. He will lose 1/3 of his salary for the 2010 season in which he was set to make $445,000 bucks. Volquez pitched in 9 games (all starts) before injuring himself last season and he was 4-2 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has now pitched in 42 games (41 starts) in his career with the Reds and he is 21-8 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The Reds aren’t happy with him right now but if he pitches well come July all will be good.