Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto’s performance at the All Star Break

How did he become an All-Star offensively for the Cincinnati Reds?

The Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman has mashed this year. He has hit 26 home runs and 68 RBIs. To add to that, Votto has batted .315 in 88 games.

Also, the lefty has walked 16.1% of his plate appearances. He has only struck out a miniscule 10.9% of the time, in which he doesn’t chase many pitches. Furthermore, he has only chased pitches out of the zone 18.2%. Those are all regularities for the veteran. But this year he has swiped three stolen bases. He can smash and steal a base or two.

Defensively sound for the Cincinnati Reds

Defensively this year, the slugger has had 682 put outs in 758.1 innings. He has been in on 92 assists so far, with only one error. The lefty can pick it. Overall, Votto’s fielding percentage is .999. It’s a lot of data thrown at the wall, but it is key into the reason behind the All Star honor. He has been one of Cincinnati’s best players in recent years. The first baseman has also been touted as one of the best at his position. He is a rock in the historic Reds’ franchise and will always be in the conversation as possibly one of the best Cincy hitter of all time.

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Career Hardship

Joey Votto persevered through injury in 2014 to come back even better the next season. He hit .314 with 29 homers and 95 RBIs. The lefty accumulated a 7.5 WAR that year as well. This was his response in 2014 about the issues per Fox Sports:  “I’m trying to be un-injured right now,” he added. ” So the second I’m capable of playing, and no longer injured, I will be back on the field. In the meantime, you can assume I’m injured. I shouldn’t get any sort of different treatment (from the fans). I’ve noticed little comments here and there, just a general perception that this is something I elected to do, that I elected to be hurt.”

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This quote goes to show how much of a low profile Votto takes, and how he blocks out the noise to get right to work. He has always shown resiliency toward the roadblocks that have been in his way. Whether if it has been through injury, a slump at the plate, or anything else. That’s what makes him a special player. No matter what the Reds’ ultimately do with him, Votto has left a lasting impact on the organization.

Conclusion

In general, the big Canadian has been one of the best hitters in the game. He is not only great on the field, but is greater off the field. The infielder cares about the community that he plays for, and they love him back. Votto is a player that doesn’t take a day off, he pushes through his difficulties everyday. The lefty masher should go down as one of the best Reds’ hitters in history. It will be interesting to see how the rest of his career pans out. Hopefully Cincinnati doesn’t trade him, because he is a commanding veteran presence. Also, they will most likely be better off with him, as he has a career 50.5 WAR. Cincinnati’s rebuild is going well, and having Joey Votto as part of the foundation is vital to get back to the postseason.

Next: How much time does Zack Cozart have left?

There is a lot to learn from a player with his resume. He has won the 2010 MVP award as well as the Hank Aaron award. The slugger has hit over .300 almost every year, and mashes close to 30 home runs also. He also knows how to pick it at first base, and has a good baseball I.Q. Votto deserves more recognition than he already gets. He has quietly been one of the best players, and best people in the game. The rest of his career may possibly push him into the Hall of Fame conversation.