Reds notes: Schebler savoring sensational snag

No one was more eager to see a replay of Scott Schebler’s amazing catch Wednesday night than the Cincinnati Reds right fielder himself.

“If I hit a home run, I never come in and watch replays,” he said. “But on that one, I wanted to see what happened, so I came in and watched the replay. I wanted to see where I actually got on the wall, where the ball actually was at.”

›› WATCH: Schebler’s amazing catch takes home run away

With one out in the top of the second, Milwaukee catcher Stephen Vogt launched what Schebler said he was sure would be a three-run homer. But Schebler raced back, planted his right foot into the fence to propel himself a few inches higher and reached over the wall to snare the ball, reducing it to sacrifice fly.

“The weird thing is it was a chain-link fence,’ Schebler said. “You just never know if you’re going to get your cleats in it or not. Sometimes they’ll slip. Honestly, it just worked out perfectly. It’s kind of crazy. I don’t get jazzed up for much, but I was pretty jacked up for that.

“Defense pumps me up,” he added. “When you do something and it helps the pitcher, it’s a real team-oriented deal, so it’s kind of fun. Offensive is obviously fun as well, but you only get to do that like once, twice in your career.”

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He said the closest he’s come to robbing a home run before that was a play last year, but he wasn’t sure if he got over the wall, nor was he certain the ball would have made it over. Schebler also made a nice catch at the base of the fence after a long run for the final out in Tuesday’s win, but he didn’t hesitate in calling Wednesday’s grab the best of his career and admitted he kept the ball.

He said he knows the catch took a lot of his teammates by surprise.

“I’m a bigger guy so nobody thinks I can run and nobody thinks I can jump, so it was kind of cool to show that off,” He said. “That’s always what you get when you come in. It’s like ‘I didn’t really see that coming at all.”

Cozart coming

Reds manager Bryan Price said shortstop Zack Cozart (right quadriceps) could be activated from the disabled list as early as Friday for the first of a three-game series against the defending world champion Chicago Cubs.

“We’re going to get through today, and it could be as early as tomorrow,” Price said prior to Thursday night’s game. “I think today is just going to be a day of rest. I think there’s a good chance for tomorrow, or certainly this weekend.”

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Thursday marked the final day of All-Star balloting, and Cozart was still holding a slim lead over 108,282 votes over Los Angeles’ Corey Seager to be the starting shortstop for the National League.

“It would mean a lot,” Cozart said. “Two years ago I had that knee injury and worked hard to get back just to be able to play again. And to be in this situation I am now, it’s pretty exciting.

“It’s going to be tough to pull off the starting nod,” he added. “I know that market over there in LA is pretty tough. But it would mean everything to me. Individually it would be such a high honor. We’ll see on Sunday.”

The All-Star teams will be revealed at 7 p.m. Sunday on the MLB Network.

Winker watch

Reds minor league outfielder Jesse Winker (Triple-A Louisville) was selected to the International League All-Star game on Thursday.

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Winker is currently tied for second in the IL in batting at .313 and third in on-base percentage at .394. He also leads the team with 37 RBI. He has played in 66 games and hit 16 doubles, two home runs and has 19 multi-hit games. He has also walked 32 times to just 34 strikeouts.

The game will be held Wednesday, July 12 in Tacoma, WA at Cheney Stadium and will be nationally televised on MLB Network at 8 p.m.

Star selections

Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the Futures Game, and two players in the Reds organization will take part.

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Right-handed pitcher Jimmy Herget (Louisville) and third baseman Nick Senzel (Pensacola) will represent the U.S. Team, which will oppose the World Team on Sunday, July 9, at Marlins Park in Miami.

Roster move

Pitcher Jake Buchanan cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent.

Buchanan appeared in five games for the Reds this season with an 8.16 ERA in 14.1 innings.

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