Sure enough, Votto wasted no time in his second at-bat to lead off the fifth inning. Its 104.4 mph exit velocity hinted that Votto was already gearing up for further fireworks later on. In his first at-bat against left-hander Austin Gomber, Votto lined the second pitch he saw to center field for a hard-luck lineout. Now I’m in a position where I only have the choice to play well, which is even more right up my alley."Īnd so, as the only player in the organization who knows what it feels like to be in first place with the Reds this deep into the summer - it was 2012, if you’re wondering - Votto did his part to ensure his teammates would finally have that opportunity by the end of the night. I want to perform well, and it’s what I expect to do as long as I’m in a uniform. "Most importantly, I love that I’m joining a team that is doing so well that I have to be a value add. If anything, it’s only motivated him further throughout the rehab process. He knows that even with his status and accomplishments, he’ll need to earn the playing time back and perform to a standard in line with a team with postseason aspirations. In what could be his final season, the fans would at least want to give the Reds legend a proper send-off if he were to end his playing career after 2023.īefore the game, Votto recognized the heightened opportunity of joining a club that is playing meaningful baseball on a daily basis. At that point, an optimistic outlook would’ve included a return to the field for Votto in any form, regardless of his performance or the team’s record. A four-game sweep suffered in Pittsburgh dropped their record to 7-15 on April 23. Meanwhile, the Reds were still finding their identity as a young team with aspirations of showing promise and progress more than a postseason nucleus. He struck out 21 times in 38 at-bats across 10 games before returning to Cincinnati to continue his rehab efforts outside of game action. Votto’s first rehab stint in April with Triple-A Louisville was a struggle, to say the least. It was never obvious that this day would arrive in this fashion for either player or team. We’ll see how I play, but I can’t wait to compete." "I feel like this is 2007 all over again. "I feel like I just got called up, if I’m most sincere," Votto said. In the hours leading up to his first game of 2023 following a 10-month recovery process from rotator cuff surgery, Joey Votto could hardly contain his excitement to suit up in front of the Great American Ball Park crowd again. CINCINNATI - The 39-year-old franchise icon felt like he was 23 again.
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