Reds’ Votto wears donkey costume to help teammate Cozart

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Votto has promised to buy Cozart a donkey if gets a starting nod in the All-Star Game. As of Monday, he was leading National League with 1,915,806 votes.

“Who would have thought this donkey thing would take off like it has,” Cozart said later Wednesday in the clubhouse.

Cozart remains on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle but will likely return to the lineup in the next couple days. Meanwhile, he waits to see if he will earn his first All-Star Game appearance. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday. The All-Star teams will be announced at 7 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

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Cozart’s wife Chelsea has gotten used to the idea that they may soon own a donkey.

“I think she’s OK with it,” Cozart said. “She’s like, ‘I want you to be an all-star. We’ve got to sacrifice.’ I’ve had a lot of offers to take care of it in Cincinnati, so that’s a positive.”

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Cozart doesn’t have a place at home for a donkey but may use that as an reason to move.

“That’s a great excuse to wiggle my way into getting some land,” Cozart said. “I’ve been trying to talk my wife into that for a while.”

Cozart ruled out naming the donkey Joe or Joey.

“Joey said he wants the fans to name it,” Cozart said. “We’ll see how it goes. Let’s wait until Sunday to see how we’re doing.”