ST. LOUIS -- Since the day Reds pitcher Jon Moscot separated his non-throwing shoulder in a season-ending injury last June 15 vs. the Tigers, he has been anticipating picking up his young career where it left off.
Because of an injury this year at Spring Training, it's happening a little later than expected, but it will finally take place on Sunday. The right-handed Moscot will be activated from the disabled list to start vs. the Cardinals. A corresponding move will be revealed before the game to make room on the 25-man roster.
"I think it's been long enough for me to be on the sidelines, so I'm really excited to get back out there," Moscot said on Saturday.
Moscot, 24, had a good chance of making the rotation out of camp until mid-March, when he sustained a strain of his left intercostal muscle while taking batting practice.
Unable to begin the season with the club, Moscot made two Minor League rehab assignment starts with Class A Daytona (3 2/3 scoreless innings) and Triple-A Louisville (five runs over 5 2/3 innings).
"Going into the offseason, I was worried I wouldn't to be as sharp as I left off last season," said Moscot, who was 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in his three big league starts in 2015. "But after my last outing, some things mechanically really clicked for me, and I started to feel as comfortable, if not more comfortable, than I was toward the end of last season when I was throwing the ball well. I'm really excited to get out there and do what I do."
A fourth-round pick in the 2012 Draft, Moscot received an opportunity last season when injuries hit the rotation. Now, as the Reds await more pitchers to return from the DL in the next few weeks, Moscot has a chance to establish himself again. Manager Bryan Price likes how Moscot manages a game against the opposing lineup.
"What excites people in the baseball industry, certainly when you're trying to sign players and looking for guys that have arm strength, size and power, but in the end -- you want somebody who manages the game and when the game is over, you've won the game," Price said. "You have a starting pitcher that has given you the innings and a chance to get to your back end bullpen pieces.
"That's what we see in Jon as he evolves as a pitcher at this level. He has a chance to manage a ballgame with four pitches. He's a very mature young guy and just a guy that can give us a chance to win on a regular basis."