"Edinson Volquez, recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery 11 months ago, made his fourth and what is expected to be his final rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Friday as the Bats blanked the Toledo Mud Hens, 3-0.

Volquez pitched seven shutout innings and didn't allow a hit until the top of the sixth. It was his only hit surrendered on the evening. He walked three, hit a batter and struck out nine.

"Tonight was a strong outing and I think I'm ready to go," Volquez told The Louisville Courier-Journal. "I've been out for nearly one year and it's time to go back. I'm excited to go back to a team that is in a pennant race."

It seems highly unlikely the Reds are going to keep Volquez down in the minors. He is clearly overmatching minor-league hitters and deserves to be added to the major-league roster.

The Reds said they will evaluate him over the break, but there is a good chance Volquez, who made six rehab starts in total, will return to the major league roster after the All-Star break.

The right-hander, who turned 27 last Saturday, threw 61 of 102 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA in four Triple-A starts to 1.96. He also pitched eight shutout innings in two outings for Single-A Lynchburg.

"He has been pitching very well and has come back from the surgery very strong," Louisville manager Rick Sweet told the C-J. "All of his starts here have been strong.""