The Reds have shut down 25-year old righty starting pitcher Johnny Cueto for the rest of the year due to a strained lat muscle. Cueto was awesome this year for the Reds! He pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Reds this year and he was 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Cueto only gave up 123 hits in 156 innings this year as he was downright nasty. Cueto has now pitched in 116 games (all starts) for the Reds in his first four years with the team and he is 41-37 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. It looks like the best is yet to come from Cueto for the Reds.

The Reds have lost 26-year old righty swinging infielder Chris Valaika for the rest of the season due to a torn right ACL. Valaika played in 14 games for the Reds this year and he was 7 for 25 (.280 avg, .733 OPS) with 3 runs scored. He has now played in 33 games in his first two years with the Reds and he is 17 for 63 (.270 avg, .684 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. This is a bad break for Valaika as he was in line to play a lot the last couple weeks of the season for the Reds.

The Reds have placed 26-year old righty reliever Logan Ondrusek on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right forearm. Ondrusek has pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Reds so far this year and he is 4-4 with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. The Reds are going to miss Ondrusek because he was one of the most dependable relievers on the team. The Reds have called up 24-year old lefty Travis Wood to replace Ondrusek on the pitching staff. Wood pitched in 16 games (all starts) for the Reds earlier this year and he is 5-5 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

The Reds have placed 26-year old righty swinging outfielder Chris Heisey on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained left oblique. Heisey has played in 97 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 54 for 217 (.249 avg, .759 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 12 homers, 38 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. This is a bad break for Heisey as he was picking up a lot of P.T. after the trade that sent Jonny Gomes to the Nationals. The Reds have called up 24-year old righty swinging outfielder Dave Sappelt to replace Heisey on the active roster. Sappelt came into this season as the Reds’ #20 prospect according to Baseball America. Sappelt has played in 74 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 93 for 297 (.313 avg, .834 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 7 homers, 29 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 405 games in his first 4 years in the minors and he is 498 for 1,612 (.309 avg, .821 OPS) with 230 runs scored, 31 homers, 184 RBIs and 82 stolen bases. Sappelt will share time in LF with Yonder Alonso until Heisey is ready to return to action.

The Reds have placed rookie shortstop Zack Cozart on the 15-day disabled list due to a hyperextended left elbow. Cozart has played in 11 games so far this year for the Reds and he is 12 for 37 (.324 avg, .811 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 3 RBIs. This is a bad break for the Reds as Cozart was looking good so far. The Reds have called up Paul Janish to share SS until Cozart is ready to return to action. Janish has played in 68 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 52 for 229 (.227 avg, .530 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 0 homers, 19 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Edgar Renteria has played in 55 games for the Reds so far this year and he is 37 for 158 (.234 avg, .590 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 1 homer, 17 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Reds hople that Cozart gets healthy soon.

UPDATE: (8/11/2011) - Zack Cozart is going to have season ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.