Reds Release Former MVP Pendleton

Terry Pendleton, picked up as a free agent during the off-season, was released Wednesday by the Cincinnati Reds.

Pendleton was the National League most valuable player and batting champion in 1991 with the Atlanta Braves, for whom he played in three World Series.

This year, he was batting .248 with one home run, 17 runs batted in and two stolen bases.

Pendleton, 37, had a $350,000 base salary and received a $1,851 bonus for every game he played in or $3,395 for each game he started.

He has a lifetime batting average of .270 with 137 homers, 917 RBIs and 126 stolen bases during his 14-year career with St. Louis, Atlanta, Florida and Cincinnati.

Additionally, utility infielder Jeff Branson, designated for assignment to the minors Tuesday, informed the Reds he will accept the assignment. He hopes to play well enough to interest another team.

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San Diego Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn left Wednesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Gwynn was replaced in the top of the fourth inning for “precautionary reasons,” the team said. It appeared Gwynn hurt himself while running from second base to third on an infield single in the second inning.

Gwynn went two for two with three RBIs, raising his batting average to .390. The two hits also enabled Gwynn to pass Billy Williams and move into a tie for 47th place with Dave Parker on the career hit list with 2,712.