Joey Votto

The Cincinnati Reds selected Votto out of high school in the second round with the 44th overall selection of the 2002 MLB draft. While playing for the Reds' rookie-level affiliate Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League, he hit 26 doubles and 14 home runs with a batting average of .302. He was promoted to the Potomac Cannons of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League and hit 5 more home runs in 20 games to end the season with 19 round-trippers. In addition to playing first base in the minors, Votto made appearances in the outfield and as a catcher. During the 2005 campaign with the Sarasota Reds of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, he hit 19 home runs but struck out 122 times and his batting average dropped nearly 50 points to .256.

Votto rebounded in 2006 with the best season of his minor league career. Playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League, he improved his batting average to .319, and hit 46 doubles and 22 home runs. He led the Southern League in batting average and total bases and was third in home runs and runs batted in (RBI). He was selected to play in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game on the World Team. He was named to both the Mid-Season and Post-Season Southern League All-Star teams, and was voted a minor league all-star by Baseball America. He culminated his season by winning the Southern League Most Valuable Player Award. During his five seasons in the minors, Votto carried Ted Williams' The Science of Hitting with him.[4]

Votto started the 2007 season playing for the Louisville Bats of the Class AAA International League. The Reds promoted Votto to the major leagues on September 1, 2007. He made his major league debut on September 4, striking out against Guillermo Mota of the New York Mets. In his second major league at-bat, he hit his first career home run. He went 3-for-5 and scored two runs as the Reds won the game, 7–0. On September 8, he went 1-for-3 with a home run and three runs batted in. His three RBI were the only Reds' runs as they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 4–3. In his next game, he went 2-for-4. On September 14, he stole his first career base against the Brewers. He ended the season going 2-for-4 with a home run and 5 RBI in the Cincinnati Reds' final game of the 2007 season.[8] He finished the season batting .321 with four home runs and 17 RBI.

Votto in spring training, 2008

Beginning with the 2008 season, Votto shared time platooning at first base with Scott Hatteberg until manager Dusty Baker began playing Votto as the Reds' starting first baseman in early April. On April 15, he hit his first home run of the season off Michael Wuertz. He drove in a career-high 5 runs against the Cubs two games later. On May 7, Votto hit three home runs in a game against the Chicago Cubs.[9]

Votto hit his first career pinch-hit home run against Cleveland's Cliff Lee, who would go on to win the AL Cy Young Award. On August 31, Votto had his first career four-hit game against the San Francisco Giants. He knocked in 4 runs in a 9–3 Reds victory. On September 18, Votto and teammate Jay Bruce each homered twice. They became the fifth rookie teammates in the divisional-era to hit 20 home runs in the same season.[10]

Votto finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting to the Chicago Cubs' Geovany Soto.[11] He led all NL rookies in hitting (.297), hits (156), HR (24), total bases (266), multi-hit games (42), on-base percentage (.368) and slugging percentage (.506).[12] Votto also broke the Reds' record for the most runs batted in by a rookie in a season. The previous record was held by National Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson with 83 in 1956. Votto drove in 84 runs during the 2008 season.

Votto played for Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In Canada's first game against the United States, he had four hits in five at-bats, one of which was a home run.[13]

Votto began the 2009 season as the outright starter at first base. In the second game of the season, he went 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI in a loss to the New York Mets. In the next game against the Mets, he had another homer and four RBI. He had a six-game hitting streak from April 12–18. On April 23, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and 2 runs batted in against the Cubs.[14] He posted a .346 batting average, swatted 3 home runs, and racked up 20 RBI during the month of April.[15]

Votto opened May with a five-game hitting streak. In a May matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, he had two homers and four RBI. He finished the month with five home runs and a .378 batting average. However, he was placed on the DL to open June after missing time in May due to personal issues. Prior to his return game during the 2009 season, he indicated he had been suffering from depression and anxiety issues as a result of the sudden death of his father in August 2008 and had sought treatment.[16] He had previously missed time because of dizziness related to an inner ear infection.

Votto made his return against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 23. In his third game back, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI.[14] After going hitless in his fourth game back, he had a 14-game hitting streak. During that stretch, he batted .389 with three home runs and 14 RBI. His hitting streak ended against the Mets on July 12 when he went 0-for-2.[14] Votto was named the National League Player of the Week for September 21–27, 2009, after hitting 10 doubles in a 5-game span, a feat not accomplished in 77 years since Hall of Fame outfielder Paul Waner of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1932.[17] Despite missing 31 games overall, Votto finished the 2009 season among the National League leaders in batting average (.322), on-base percentage (.414) and slugging percentage (.567), and he hit 25 home runs.[12]

Votto started the 2010 season by going 3-for-5 with a home run and a run batted in. By the end of April, he had four home runs and 12 RBI. His average was .275, but his on-base percentage was .400 because of 18 bases on balls. In the month of May, he batted .344 with 6 home runs and 21 runs batted in. However, he missed the last six games that month because of a sore neck. He would be back on June 1 in a game against the Cardinals. He went 4-for-5 with a home run and 1 RBI. The Reds won the game to regain the NL Central lead.

Votto was not initially voted to the 2010 All-Star game in Anaheim, California, but he made the roster via online fan voting through the National League's Final Vote. He was named on 13.7 million of the 26 million ballots submitted.[18] Votto went 0-for-2 in the game. On August 25, Votto went 4-for-7 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. He also drove in the tie-breaking run with a single off Giants pitcher Barry Zito.[19] Votto made the cover of Sports Illustrated on the August 30, 2010 edition.

On September 11, Votto hit his first career walk-off home run off Pirates relief pitcher Justin Thomas. For the season, Votto hit .324 with 113 RBI, 106 runs scored and 37 home runs, including a grand slam off Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves on May 20. He finished the season leading the Major Leagues in On-Base Percentage (.424) and led the National League in Slugging Percentage (.600) and On-base plus slugging (1.024). The Reds made the postseason but lost to the Phillies in the National League Divisional Series in a three-game sweep.[20] Votto struggled in the series, batting .100 with one run batted in.[12]

Votto won the 2010 Hank Aaron Award in the National League.[21] Votto was announced as the 2010 NL MVP, coming within one vote of winning unanimously as Albert Pujols received the other first-place vote.[22] He was only the third Canadian to win the MVP award, after Larry Walker and Justin Morneau.[23] He became the first Reds player to win the National League MVP since Barry Larkin won it in 1995. "Not to be dramatic or anything, but after I was told, I couldn't help but cry because I know how much at some point this meant to me and would have meant to my (late) father," Votto remarked after being named MVP. He added, "I did some pretty good things, and most importantly, we won. We went to the playoffs – it's been a long time since we'd been to the playoffs—and I think those all together were the reason I won."[23]

In 2016, looking back on his MVP peak, Votto told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "Until Trout came into the league, I thought every year that I would be in the conversation for best player in the game. And he fucked that up for everybody. Babe Ruth and Ted Williams included. He’s ruining it for everyone."[24]

Votto, 2011

On January 16, 2011, it was announced that the Reds and Votto had agreed to a three-year, $38-million deal. [25]

Votto homered in the Reds' first game of the 2011 season—a solo homer off Kameron Loe of the Brewers. He recorded his first 4-hit game of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks and raised his average to .455. By the end of April, he had a .370 batting average, 4 home runs, and 14 runs batted in. He posted a .500 on-base percentage. He began the season by reaching base in 27 consecutive games dating back to the previous season. The club record was set by Dave Collins with 34 in 1981.

On June 25, Votto hit his 100th career home run against Brian Matusz of the Orioles. He later added another home run in the game. That was also his first multi-homer game of the season. He also drove in five runs, his most in a game during the season.[26] On July 3, Votto was voted in by the players for the 2011 All-Star Game as a reserve. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.[12]

On August 28, Votto hit a walk-off home run against the Nationals in the 14th inning. On September 24, he drove in 2 runs against the Pirates for his 100th and 101st RBI of the season, becoming the first Reds player to drive in 100 runs in back-to-back seasons since Dave Parker in 1985–1986.[27]

Votto finished the season with a .309 batting average, 29 home runs, and 103 RBI. He also led the NL in doubles (40), bases on balls (110), and on-base percentage (.416).[12] On November 1, Votto won his first Gold Glove Award. He finished sixth in the NL MVP voting.[12]

On April 2, 2012, Votto signed a 10-year, $225 million contract extension with the Reds, which runs through the 2024 season.[28] The deal includes the two years that remained on his previous contract and pushes the total worth of the contract to 12 years and $251.5 million—the longest active deal in baseball at the time. The deal (including the one-year team option), is the 13th-largest deal in MLB history.[29] At the time, it was the longest guaranteed contract in MLB history.[30] Also, the contract made Votto the highest paid athlete from Canada.[29]

On May 13, Votto went 4-for-5 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI, including a walk-off grand slam against the Washington Nationals in a 9–6 win. It was the first time in major league history that a player hit three home runs including a walk-off grand slam in a single game.[31]

On July 1, Votto was selected by the fans as a National League team starter in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.[32] At the time of his selection, he was hitting .350 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs.

On July 16, the Reds announced that Votto would need arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and was expected to miss three to four weeks.[33] He originally hurt the knee June 29 sliding into third base.[34] He left the next day before the bottom of the fifth inning and missed the next two games because of inflammation in his knee.[35][36] At the time surgery was announced, he was leading the NL in walks, doubles, OBP, and extra-base hits. He was second in RISP average and third in slugging percentage.[36]

On September 5, Votto returned to the Reds' line-up in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first at-bat since July 15, he lined a single off pitcher Roy Halladay in the first inning. He would finish the game 2-for-3 with a walk.[37] After his return from the disabled list, he struggled with his power numbers. In 25 games, he hit 8 doubles and drove in 7 runs, but didn't hit any home runs. He still got on base at a high clip with an OBP of .505 and walking 28 times. In that span, he also batted over .316.[38]

Votto finished the season having played in 111 games—the fewest he had played in a season since becoming the Reds' starting first basemen in 2008. He had a .337 batting average, .474 on-base percentage, and a .567 slugging percentage to go along with 14 home runs, 56 RBI, and 44 doubles.[39] His 94 walks led the NL. (Eighteen of his walks were intentional, which led the majors.)

In late February, Votto was voted by fans as the "Face of the MLB," a contest that pits the "face" of every MLB team against each other and uses Twitter. He received more votes than Joe Mauer, José Bautista, Derek Jeter, Andrew McCutchen, and Matt Kemp.

Votto played for Team Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Votto homered on consecutive days from April 20–21 against the Marlins, making it the first time since September 10–11 of 2011 he homered in consecutive games.[40] In July, he was again voted as an All-Star starter for the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was his fourth All-Star appearance, and in the game, he went 0-for-2, making him a career 0-for-9 in All-Star Games.[41]

Votto before a game in April 2014

On May 21, 2014, Votto was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quadriceps. He returned on June 10, but he went back on the DL with the same injury on July 8 and didn't make it back before the end of the season. In 62 games played, he hit a career-low .255 with a .390 on-base percentage, .409 slugging percentage, 6 home runs, 47 walks, and 23 RBI.

On May 6, 2015, Votto was ejected following a strikeout where he threw his helmet down in frustration. Speculation claimed that prior to his ejection, he had choice words with Gerrit Cole during his at-bat. After getting ejected, Votto appeared to have bumped Chris Conroy. It was only his fifth career ejection and first since 2010. He later received a one-game suspension, which he served when the Reds played the Chicago White Sox.[42]

On June 9, Votto hit three home runs in a single game for the third time in his career in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The last Reds player to accomplish this feat was Johnny Bench.[43] On August 2, Votto was ejected following a bench-clearing brawl between the Reds and the Pirates.[44] On September 10, Votto was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. It was the third time during the season that Votto was ejected; coincidentally, all three were against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[45] On September 11, MLB suspended Votto for two games with an option to appeal.[46] On October 2, Votto tied a Reds record set by Pete Rose in 1978 when he got on base for his 48th straight game.[47] In 158 games during 2015, Votto had an MLB-leading 143 walks, a .314 batting average, 29 home runs, and 80 RBI. He walked in 20.6% of his at bats (leading the major leagues), and he swung at only 19.1% of pitches outside the strike zone (the lowest percentage in the majors).[48][49]

Following the season, Votto was awarded his fifth Tip O'Neill Award.[50] He finished third in the National League MVP voting behind Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt.

Votto grabbing shirt of fan who interrupted Votto's attempt to catch a foul ball

After hitting a season-low .213 on May 31, Votto became the first player in MLB since Ichiro Suzuki in 2004 to hit .400 after the All-Star Break. Votto hit .408/.490/.668 in the second half.

Votto's .326 season average was the second-best of his career, behind only his 2012 season, where he hit .337.[51] Votto hit 29 home runs, second only to his 2010 MVP season.[51]

Votto finished the season with a .326 (3rd in the NL)/.435 (leading the NL)/.550 (6th in the NL) line; he also had 108 walks, 29 home runs, and 97 RBI (10th in the NL), while playing 158 games for the second straight season. He was also among the NL league leaders in OPS (.985, 2nd), walks (T2nd), hits (8th), runs (9th), and total bases (306, 10th). He became the 10th player in Major League history to lead his league in on-base percentage at least 5 times; the only players who had done it more years were Barry Bonds (10) and Hall of Famers Ted Williams (12), Babe Ruth (10), Rogers Hornsby (9), Ty Cobb (7), Wade Boggs (6), and Stan Musial (6).[51]

Votto finished the first half of the 2017 season with a slash line of .315/.427/.614[12] while slugging 26 home runs, which tied for the NL lead with Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.[52] This performance earned Votto his fifth career All-Star appearance as a substitute. He was also known for his promise to buy teammate Zack Cozart a donkey for making the 2017 All-Star Game.[53] After many interviews and an appearance in a donkey suit on MLB Network's Intentional Talk,[54] Cozart won the fan vote and made the cut as the National League starting shortstop. Votto upheld his end of the deal, buying Cozart a donkey shortly afterward. As the second half of the season passed, the Reds continued to struggle, but Votto did just the opposite. Late in the year, Votto had a streak of consecutive games reaching base multiple times, which spanned 20 games and was the second longest in MLB history behind Ted Williams' 1948 record of 21.[55]

He finished the year with a stat-line that consisted of a .319 batting average (4th in the NL), .578 slugging percentage (7th), 106 runs scored (6th), 36 homers (6th), and 100 runs batted in (10th).[56] He led the league in OBP at .454, OPS (at 1.032), in walks for the fifth season (134), in walk percentage (at 19%), and in walks per strikeout (at 1.61), while leading the majors in intentional walks (20).[57][58] His WAR total equalled out to 7.5, his second-highest since his year in 2015 when he had 7.6 WAR.[59] Votto's homer total was one under his 2010 season as well. Votto became just the first Reds player since Pete Rose in 1975 to start all 162 regular season games in a season and just the fourth player in franchise history to do so.[60] He swung at only 15.8% of pitches outside the strike zone (the lowest percentage in the majors).[61] Among all active players at the end of the season, he was first in career on-base percentage (.428), second in OPS (.969), third in batting average (.313), fourth in walks (996), and fifth in slugging percentage (.541).[12]

End-of-season awards for Votto included selection as first baseman on Baseball America's All-MLB Team and his second Lou Marsh Trophy.[62] Votto also finished second in the National League MVP voting, narrowly losing out to Giancarlo Stanton by 2 votes in the fourth-closest vote in MLB history.[63]

Votto at the 2018 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby

With eight home runs and 44 RBIs, Votto was named to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.[64] For the season, he batted .284/.417 /.419.[12] For the third year running, he led the National League in on-base percentage. He swung at only 16.4% of pitches outside the strike zone (the lowest percentage in the majors).[65]

In 2019, Votto batted .261/.357/.411 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.[12] He swung at the lowest percentage of pitches outside the strike zone of all National League batters (21.1%), and had the lowest Soft Contact Percentage of all major league batters, at 10.1%.[66]

On September 20, Votto drew the 1,211th walk of his career, passing Pete Rose for the most in Reds history.[67]

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season, Votto appeared in 53 games. He had 223 plate appearances and batted .226/.354/.446 with 11 home runs and 22 runs batted in.[12] He was the 9th-eldest player in the National League.[68]