Zack Cozart Works Toward Opening Day

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Zack Cozart's 2015 season ended on June 10 with a misstep running out a ground ball.

Cozart tore ligaments and the biceps tendon in his right knee and had it surgically repaired. Cozart was off to a good start, hitting .258 with nine home runs and 28 RBI when the injury occurred.

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"The positive was I worked my tail off last winter working on my swing and I know it paid off," said Cozart, who hit a career-low .221 with career-low four home runs and 38 RBI in 2014.

The Reds were 27-31 at the time he was injured, having suffered a nine-game losing streak in mid-May. The Reds defeated the Philadelphia Phillies the day he was hurt to complete a four-game winning streak.

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Cozart's fortunes and the Reds went downhill from there.  The Reds are 36-62 coming into the last six games of the season.

It has been hard for the 30-year old to be on the sidelines.

"It's been a tough year in general," Cozart said. "I don't like to see my teammates go out there and struggle. I like to compete."

Cozart has had over three months to rehab his knee.

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"The only thing I'm limited on is hard cuts," Cozart said. "I am running and doing agility drills. I am in on a full weight lifting program. I'm throwing. I should be able to do everything mid-November or early December. I will have a knee brace before Thanksgiving. I don't know how much I'll use it. Some guys like it and others feel like they don't need it once the knee stabilizes."

"I'm confident I will be full go by spring training," Cozart said. "It will be close to nine months since the surgery."