By Mark Sheldon

Reds 1B Joey Votto has kept a pretty low profile since he went back on the disabled list July 8 with a distal strain of his left quadriceps. The information about his progress has been limited and no one heard much from Votto himself — until today.

While talking about his rehab on Thursday, Votto addressed the narrative of people questioning his inability to play and that he hasn’t come back sooner. (There is still no timetable on his return).

“Let’s make it clear here — I think there’s been a real gray area and I feel like I’ve been the one in the crosshairs — I’ve been injured,” Votto said. “I feel like this is something I’ve had hanging over me in the general population, the fans, I think it’s a toughness, or playing through pain sort of thing, or playing hurt sort of thing. I’ve been injured. I played injured. I went on the DL because I’m injured. I’m trying to be un-injured now.

“So the second I’m capable of playing and I’m no longer injured, I’ll be back on the field. In the meantime, you can assume I’m injured. I shouldn’t get some sort of different treatment, as if this is — I’ve noticed little comments here and there and just a general perception that this is something I elected to do. I didn’t elect to be injured. I am injured. People get injured. I am injured. What can I do? At some point I’ll be back playing like I was playing before.”

I will have more later on MLB.com/Reds.com.