Joey Votto's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings
Player profile
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HT/WT6' 2'' , 220 lbs
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Birthdate09/10/1983 (40)
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Draft Info2002: Rd 2, Pk 3
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StatusInactive
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) is considered day-to-day after rolling his right ankle in his Grapefruit League debut with the team on Sunday. The injury isn't very serious, as Votto is scheduled to take live batting practice on the field in camp on Tuesday. It remains to be seen when Votto will be allowed to play in another spring game, but the injury isn't very serious at all and shouldn't keep him from being ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. Given how late the 40-year-old signed with Toronto, he's expected to open the year in the minors with Triple-A Buffalo, but he should eventually become an experienced left-handed bat off the bench for the Blue Jays in 2024 in what could be his final season of professional baseball.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) was forced to exit early during Sunday's spring training contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran slugger launched a solo home run in his first at-bat with his new team. Sadly, Votto didn't last too much longer as he rolled his ankle stepping on a bat in the dugout. The team decided to take a cautious approach and pull Votto from the game. The expectation is that Votto will return to the lineup in a few days.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto could be in minor-league games in spring training as early as Wednesday, according to manager John Schneider. This would put Votto on track to appear in his first Grapefruit League game in the days that follow this weekend, but the Blue Jays want to ramp him up against minor-league pitching first. The 40-year-old veteran joined the club as a non-roster invite to spring training last Friday and will attempt to make his hometown team in what could be his final season as a professional. There's a good chance Votto will start the year at Triple-A Buffalo, but he could eventually be up in Toronto as a veteran left-handed bat off the bench. In 65 games in 2023 for the Reds, he hit just .202 but with 14 home runs.
Free-agent first baseman Joey Votto has signed a non-roster invite deal to join the Toronto Blue Jays for spring training. The 40-year-old is from Toronto as the player and team seemed likely to at least connect on a minors deal this winter. Votto was relatively productive in the 2023 season, hitting just .202 but also slugging 14 home runs in just 65 games played while walking at a healthy 11.2% clip. He has seen his walk rates dip and his strikeout rates increase in recent seasons but his production hovered around league average a season ago, as per his 98 wRC+. He will battle for reps at designated hitter in the 2024 season but the Blue Jays also signed veteran Justin Turner to fill that void. Votto is well off the fantasy radar at this point.
Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall told season-ticket holders that the team doesn't plan to re-sign long-time first baseman Joey Votto this offseason. "We don't plan to bring him back as of now," Krall said. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, considering the Reds have the most infield depth of any team in baseball, and Votto is entering his age-41 season. The six-time All-Star left-handed slugger is feeling great physically this offseason, but he's also played in 156 games combined the last two years due to shoulder issues. Votto broke out for a surprising 36 home runs in 2021, but since then he's slashed only .204/.317/.394 with 25 home runs and 79 RBI in 618 plate appearances. His best shot at big-league playing time might be as a designated hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays, but even then, he'll only be fantasy relevant for a bit of pop in AL-only leagues.