Ranking the 5 best hitting first basemen in Cincinnati Reds history

1. Best hitting first baseman in Reds history: Joey Votto (2007-present)

This should come as no surprise to anybody. Joey Votto is the best hitting first baseman in Cincinnati Reds history. Furthermore, Votto is one of the best players of his era.

To date, Votto has spent his entire 16-year career as the Cincinnati Reds first baseman. Votto has provided unwavering consistency at the dish over nearly two decades. The slugger has received MVP consideration on nine separate occasions while also appearing in six All-Star Games.

Joey Votto's National League MVP award in 2010 was the first time a Reds player had won the award since Barry Larkin did so in 1995. That season, Votto led the league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage while notching 36 doubles and 37 home runs.

Votto has three seasons with an on-base percentage over .450, and a career-OBP over .400. Votto led the NL in that category on seven different occasions.

Votto ranks first among all Reds first basemen in nearly every statistical category. He has combined plate discipline, power, and a career batting average of nearly .300 to help turn himself into one of the greatest hitters in team history.

Cincinnati Reds fans will miss Joey Votto when he's gone. The 2023 season represents the final guaranteed year on Votto's 10-year contract extension. The game of baseball will miss him as well. Few players approach the game with the type of mental acumen that Votto does. He's incredibly cerebral in his approach to hitting.

Joey Votto will one day have his No. 19 retired and enter the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. Though fiercely debated on social media, by all accounts, Votto will also be enshrined in Cooperstown shortly after his Hall of Fame-worthy career comes to a close.