CINCINNATI (AP) -Outfielder Norris Hopper was activated from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday after the Cincinnati Reds decided to go with two catchers instead of three.
The Reds designated catcher Chad Moeller for assignment to the minors to open a spot for Hopper, who bruised his heel while running into an outfield fence on March 19. Hopper opened the season on the disabled list.
The Reds waited until shortly before their game against Houston to announce the move because they wanted to make sure Hopper could make it to Cincinnati in time to play, if necessary.
Moeller signed a one-year, $700,000 contract in November. He didn’t start any of the Reds’ first 14 games and went 1-for-6 overall.
Last year, the Reds carried three catchers for the entire season. The move with Moeller leaves them with David Ross and Javier Valentin behind the plate. Ryan Freel can be an emergency catcher – he played the position in high school.
“You weigh one against the other and see which way you want to go,” general manager Wayne Krivsky said. “We’re going this way for a while.”
Reds reinstate Hopper, designate Moeller
By Admin