By Kevin Kelly and Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The accelerated recovery of John Vander Wal progressed another step Tuesday.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's game

The outfielder/first baseman, who in January tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, donned a Reds game uniform for the first time and took pre-game batting practice at Great American Ball Park.

"It's not that big of deal," Vander Wal said. "Well, it is for me a little bit, just to get out. It's my first time hitting on the field."

Wearing a bulky knee brace, the 37-year-old hit 35 pitches during batting practice.

"He's been hitting in the cage for approximately the last week and hasn't had any problems," Reds head trainer Mark Mann said. "With (the team) coming home and the pitchers hitting earlier (Tuesday), the timing was right."

While Vander Wal's return is much anticipated, neither he nor the Reds are publicly giving a timetable. It typically takes between four and nine months for a player to recover from an ACL injury and resulting surgery.

"He's definitely worked incredibly hard," Mann said. "That's really showing at this point."

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY: The Reds honored retired player Chuck Harmon before Tuesday's game, presenting the team's first African-American player with a plaque that will be displayed on the Terrace Level at Great American Ball Park.

Harmon, who turns 80 years old Friday and lives in Cincinnati, made his Reds debut against the Milwaukee Braves on April 17, 1954.

"Was I nervous? Not really," he said. "That's not a time to be nervous. When you're in the on-deck circle is when you get nervous. Once you get into that squared box it's all business."

Harmon played in 203 career games with the Reds from 1954-56, and 86 more with St. Louis and Philadelphia during the 1956 and '57 seasons.

"The only pioneer we read about then was go West and all that," said Harmon, who also threw out the first pitch. "Really everybody asks me (if I considered myself a pioneer).

"All I realized is I had to worry about trying to hit that ball or trying to catch it. Sometimes I had a problem with both."

LARSON SET TO RETURN: Brandon Larson is ready to rejoin the Reds whenever they give him the OK. The Reds third baseman, who has been on the disabled list since March 30 with turf toe, worked out with the Reds at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, an off day for Class AAA Louisville, where he's on a rehab assignment.

"I think they wanted to get a gauge as to where I was at," Larson said. "I felt good at the plate, a lot better than I was the last time I was here. The toe feels great. We'll just wait and see. I've been playing the last week. I can definitely play."

Larson is hitting .348 for Louisville (8-for-23) with two home runs and five runs batted in seven games. He'll rejoin the Bats in Columbus today, but hopes to be back with the Reds in a few days. "They told me that I'm going there for maybe two more games and then we'll see after that," Larson said.

RARE START: Javier Valentin made his first start for the Reds at catcher Tuesday night.

"I like to keep the guys fresh," said Reds manager Dave Miley. "The only guy now who hasn't started a game is (Ray) Olmedo."

BULLPEN WOES: The Reds' bullpen has posted a 10.80 ERA in its last five games after a recording a 0.44 ERA in its first seven, but Miley says he's not concerned. Four of those games were played in windy Wrigley Field.

Phil Norton, the only left-hander in the Reds' bullpen, hasn't retired a batter in either of his last two appearances. He has seen his ERA swell from 4.50 to 11.25. But Miley says he's sticking with him for now.

"When we need a left-hander, we're going to get him ready," Miley said.

ETC: The first 40,000 fans at tonight's game will receive a Joe Nuxhall bobblehead doll. Tickets remain available. Gates open at 5:40 p.m.

REDS FACT: Adam Dunn has seven home runs in April, three shy of Tony Perez's club mark.