The Reds' top three prospects in the minor leagues may be left-hander Ty Howington, right-hander Ricardo Aramboles and outfielder Wily Mo Pena.

        So news that all three were placed on the disabled list over the past three days is troubling.

        “Any time you lose your top prospects for any amount of time, it's a blow,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “Any time they're out, they miss valuable time in their development.”

        None of the injuries is considered serious.

        Aramboles injured his right thumb while hitting. Pena has been dealing with a strained quad muscle since the first week of the season, and Howington has case of shoulder tendinitis.

        “With guys like these, we're going to err on the side of precaution,” said Tim Naehring, the Reds' director of player development.

        Pena and Aramboles came to Cincinnati to be examined by medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek. They will stay here to rehabilitate a week or two.

        All three are close to making the major leagues. Pena, 20, must make the roster next year, or the Reds risk losing him. Aramboles, the 20-year-old obtained in the Mark Wohlers trade with the New York Yankees, was 1-0 with a 3.13 ERA at the time of his injury.

        “With the way he was pitching, he was in the mix for the major-league club,” Bowden said.

        Howington, the Reds' No.1 pick in 1999, was overpowering in his first two starts, pitching a one-hitter in the second one. But he was ineffective in the last two. That raised concern.

        “We saw a drop in his velocity,” Naehring said. “We asked him about it. He said he had some pain, so we took him out right away.”

        Howington was examined by a doctor with Dr. James Andrews' group in Birmingham, Ala.

Reds 3, Rockies 2 Reds box, runs SULLIVAN: Encarnacion brought all the tools Larkin gets back in the swing 3 top prospects on DL Reds Notebook: Davis rehab progressing Giants 12, Cubs 4 Yankees 2, A's 1

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