Reds shortstop Zack Cozart suffered torn ligaments and a torn biceps tendon in his right knee and will undergo surgery to repair the tendon on Monday, the team announced (Twitter link). C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets that Cozart tore both the ACL and LCL in his knee. The recovery time is an estimated nine months, meaning Cozart will be out for the remainder of the year.
Cozart, 29, injured the knee when stretching in an attempt to beat out an infield single. His right leg slipped off the back of the base, causing him to fall to the ground and immediately clutch his knee in obvious pain (video link, though some may prefer not to watch).
The injury will bring to an end what has been, to date, the finest season of Cozart’s career. The former second-round pick has long been regarded as one of the game’s better defenders at shortstop, but his offensive output slipped in 2012, 2013 and 2014 after a solid rookie campaign. That changed in 2015, as Cozart has batted an very solid .258/.310/.459 with nine homers through just 214 plate appearances. Though his season will come to an end, Cozart figures to remain a part of the Reds’ future plans. He’s controllable through the 2017 season via arbitration, though obviously the injury will hamper his arbitration earnings this winter. Nonetheless, with a reasonable $2.35MM base salary in 2015, the Reds certainly figure to tender him a contract for the 2016 season.
Cozart’s unfortunate situation creates a window of opportunity for Triple-A shortstop Eugenio Suarez, who has been recalled from Triple-A. Acquired from the Tigers along with hard-throwing righty Jonathon Crawford in exchange for Alfredo Simon this offseason, the 23-year-old has a strong track record at the Triple-A level, where he has authored a .264/.358/.455 batting line with 10 homers in 69 games. Suarez saw a good bit of action in the Major Leagues in 2014 with Jose Iglesias sidelined, and he held his own for a 22-year-old, hitting .242/.316/.336. He’ll likely step in as the everyday shortstop in Cozart’s stead.
Losing Cozart for the year is another blow for a Reds team that has seen Marlon Byrd suffer a fractured wrist and Devin Mesoraco miss nearly the entire season thus far due to a hip impingement. Homer Bailey, too, will miss nearly the entire year due to Tommy John surgery. Many expect Cincinnati to become trade deadline sellers, and the loss of an elite defensive shortstop that has been one of the club’s best hitters as well certainly doesn’t improve their odds of remaining in contention.
Who will take over?
Suarez
Not trying to sound condescending, but did you even read the post? There’s a whole paragraph talking about Suarez being recalled and replacing Cozart.
Not really I kind of skimmed over it and was thinking about who the backup was. I don’t really read the middle of articles sometimes as they can be boring. Don’t think I am saying it is a bad article it is a good article I was just eating lunch with my family and I wasn’t really paying attention.
Wow. The hits just keep on coming. Hope he gets better soon and is healthy next year.
How has Chapman performed.
Trade him before it’s too late !
Thats what I thought. The Reds may want to rebuild. Possible trade to the Rangers?
A biceps tendon in his knee?
Correct. Such a thing does exist. I’d imagine tearing it is less than pleasant.
Thanks, I had honestly never heard of that.
and the crybaby cards fans complain about injuries?
Because they’re actually a contender..
It’s a lousy thing–not only for Cozart, because,well, ouch, but also for the Reds–he’s productive enough and cheap enough that he could bring a pretty decent return if a)he’s healthy and b) the Reds want to start that long-overdue rebuild.
With Bailey (Tommy John 12 months), Cozart (knee 9 months), Byrd (fractured wrist), Mesoraco (hip impingement 4 months), Hamilton and Phillips are day-to-day with minor injuries. The Reds need to look at 2015 as a lost year and look toward 2016/2017 to compete again.
Trading Cueto and Leake (Free Agents after the end of the season), and Chapman (FA after 2016). Could net enough prospects to have them back into contention in a year or two. They already have 3 rookie starters that look like they will stick (Iglesias, Desclafani, and Lorenzen) and 2016 should bring their top pitching prospect Stephenson and top hitting prospect Winker into the mix.
Red Sox trade Henry Owens, Devin Marreo, and Joe Kelly for Johnny Cueto and Chapman!
Much, much more
Red Sox fans only offer their scraps.
That might be one of the worst proposals I’ve ever seen on this site. A good not great prospect with questions, a defense first prospect, and a 5th starter who has been brutal this year. HMMMMMMM, wonder who says no
Yeah, if the Red Sox offered that to the Reds, they MIGHT get a $50 Chipotle gift card.
Oh man, what a shame. He was having a great season
Having watched Suarez with the Tigers last year, I think the Reds fans will be pleasantly surprised. While he is not Cozart defensively, he is sound. Decent pop, good speed. Should be a nice ball player.