India joins Reds’ playoff push in return from IL

COLUMBUS — During most Reds games, it’s easy to find the guy with long hair who stands on the top step of their bench and cheers them on. Since he went on the injured list on July 30 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Jonathan India has only been able to play this part.

Now, India is ready to get back on the field for the last three weeks of the season and help Cincinnati try to make the playoffs. Joey Votto, who had pain in his left shoulder, and Hunter Greene, who was on the COVID IL, were called with him on Sunday.

“It was so hard for me to be here every game on the front steps cheering them on because I want to be out there playing,” India said before going to Triple-A Louisville for a rehab assignment. “This is just another step on my way. I’m ready to go back and prove myself.”

India was batting. He was an emotional boss both on the field and in the clubhouse.Before he got hurt, he hit.251/.336/.409 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 103 games.

“It says a lot about who he is and what kind of person he is that he can be so active and interested while being hurt. Will Benson, an outfielder for the Reds, said, “He’s a great guy to have around.” “Of course, having him back will add more fuel to the fire. We know that he brings a lot to the table with the way he plays, leads, and works hard. All of these make us who we are as a team.”

India had hoped to be out for only a short time and be back by the middle of August, but something went wrong while he was running to test his foot.

That meant he needed more time to recover, which he did by doing things like running on a zero-gravity machine at the Reds’ Spring Training complex in Arizona.

Jonathan India’s two-RBI double

“It did not start out well at all. I tried to push, but it didn’t go my way,” India said. “It’s just a bad accident, something I never thought would happen to me. I took such good care of my body both before and during the season. Up to that point, I had played every game. I can’t control everything.”

Even though he couldn’t run for a while at first, India got live hitting practice by facing coaches Alon Leichman and Matt Tracy for a few days.

“I’m thankful to Matt Tracy and Alon, who have been throwing good live ABs,” India said. “They’ve been getting me ready for a month. There is my swing. My time is right. I’m ready to win with the team.”