Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto’s absence opens the door for Brian O’Grady

Joey Votto was put on the 10-day injured list with a back strain. Cincinnati Reds rookie Brian O’Grady may get the majority of starts at first base in his stead.

It’s never a good thing when your team leader makes a trip to the injured list, but that’s what the Cincinnati Reds will be faced with for at least the next week as Joey Votto recovers from a strained back. In his absence, look for rookie Brian O’Grady to get several opportunities to prove that he belongs at the major league level.

Votto’s placement on the injured list was retroactive to Thursday, so the first baseman could return to action as soon as Sunday in Pittsburgh. This hasn’t been the bounce back season that many fans had hoped to see from Votto. He’s currently slashing .262/.352/.410 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs.

With Votto under contract though the 2023 season, talk of a replacement for the former MVP would be grossly exaggerated. However, the promotion of Brian O’Grady to the big leagues may offer a glimpse into what the future may hold for the 27-year-old.

O’Grady was selected by the Reds in the 8th round of the 2014 MLB Draft and has been steadily climbing the minor league ladder. After crushing 27 home runs at Triple-A Louisville this season, O’Grady was called up to the big leagues a few weeks ago when Derek Dietrich made his way to the injured list with a shoulder injury.

A rash of injuries and roster moves since the All-Star break have given several young prospects an opportunity to shine. Josh VanMeter seems to have taken full control and may be in the mix for a starting gig in 2020. Aristides Aquino has certainly taken the bull by the horns and looks the part of the Reds every day right fielder. Will O’Grady be the next to take that giant leap?

With his primary spot being first base, O’Grady is blocked at the big league level by Joey Votto. Even though Votto’s production has seen a sharp decline over the past two seasons, the Reds are still on the hook for $100M over the next four years. Votto’s contract includes a $7M buyout if the team wishes to move on from the six-time All-Star in 2024.

While a small contingent of the fan base have advocated for the Cincinnati Reds to trade Joey Votto, that’s not going to happen. No team in their right mind is going to trade for an aging star owed $100M over the next four seasons. Votto also has the ability to veto any trade as he has 10-5 rights. In essence, 10-and-5 rights function as a full no-trade clause.

So, with that out of the way, let’s focus on Brian O’Grady. Even though he’s not the heir apparent to Joey Votto, O’Grady offers versatility, a trait that David Bell loves. In addition to 60 games at first base, O’Grady has also spent time in the outfield this season with the Louisville Bats. He’s also played 3 games at third base.

Think of O’Grady as a younger, cheaper version of Derek Dietrich. In fact, when faced with roster decisions as the end of the season nears, don’t be shocked if Dietrich is let go in favor of O’Grady. O’Grady will likely still retain his rookie status while Dietz will be entering his final year of arbitration, looking for a pay raise.

Given that Dietrich hasn’t hit a home run since July 13th in Colorado and his hitting just .100 in the 15 games he’s played since that game, his future with the Cincinnati Reds seems bleak at best. Like Dietrich, O’Grady is a power bat from the left side.

Though he has just one hit in seven at-bats at the major league level, there’s a strong possibility that we’ll see O’Grady start multiple games this week for the Reds while Votto is on the mend. Though he’s not auditioning to be Joey’s replacement, a good showing this week could land O’Grady a spot on next year’s roster.