Joey Votto had a frustrating 2022 season ended prematurely by a rotator cuff tear in his left shoulder that required surgery in August. The Reds expressed optimism at the time of the procedure their longtime first baseman would be ready to go by Spring Training, though Votto’s still amidst his rehab.
“It’s going to take time, I’m realizing now,” Votto told 700 WLW in Cincinnati this afternoon (Twitter link). “I’m hitting off an arm and I just started hitting off a machine a little bit, but it’s not quite there. I’ve been told by people that I’m doing very well in my rehab, but there is a difference between doing well and being ready for a Major League game if that makes sense.”
Asked whether he felt he’d be ready by the start of Spring Training, the former MVP demurred. “I’d say I’m not willing to make that prediction just because I don’t know. I’ve never experienced anything like this. I try to manage my expectations, of course. I don’t know. I’m hopeful; I’m always hopeful.”
Votto expressed confidence he’d eventually get back to 100%, but he’s clearly not yet at that level. That’s not really a worrisome development at this stage. Cincinnati’s initial prognosis came with a roughly six-month recovery timetable, and Votto’s only within his fifth month. It still seems possible he’ll be ready at or near the open of exhibition play. Even if he does wind up heading into Spring Training a week or two behind schedule, getting into game shape by Opening Day should be attainable.
Needless to say, getting back to full strength will be a key starting point in what the six-time All-Star hopes is a bounceback campaign. Votto hit just .205/.319/.370 through 376 plate appearances last year. That production was eight percentage points below league average, by measure of wRC+. That’s the lowest mark of his career and only the second below-average offensive showing he’d ever had. Votto candidly admitted to 700 WLW he “didn’t play well enough to even justify a starting job,” though there’s little question the Reds will give him another shot to get back on track.
It’ll be the 17th season in Cincinnati for the career-long Red. It’s certainly possible the 2023 campaign will be his final one with the club, as he’s headed into the last guaranteed season of the $225MM extension he inked back in 2012. Votto will make $25MM next season and is due at least a $7MM buyout on a 2024 club option valued at $20MM. It’s difficult to envision Cincinnati triggering that option unless Votto turns in an excellent season, so he seems headed towards free agency a winter from now.
Wow!
ShamWow!
Put butter on Joey, he’s toast
I believe Votto will retire after this season and will become a hitting coach.
Why would he want to work so hard for such little money? Will enjoy life or get a tv job and enjoy life.
Some just do.
Rod Carew did it for years and some will do it if it mean they can find a pathway to management.
Sandberg managed in the minors for a few years, so this isn’t unusual as you think.
Veritek
I had my labrum torn off the bone, a torn rotator cuff and burst bursa sac 2 years ago, surgery 18 months ago….I’ve made progress but I’m still not even close to where I was before the injury, and this is with the best physical therapy agency in my area, good luck!
Those guys don’t have Votto money. He may want to do it. Most guys with that much money wouldn’t.
You can tell he’s been “auditioning” for a TV job post playing time the last few years. He’s always doing interviews during games.
I’ve actually had the privilege to do some tax work for some major league coaches. There salaries may not be comparable to the players but they are nothing to sneeze at
The new trend is former big leaguers going to coach in college instead of the bigs because they make more money. For example recently Wes Johnson was the Twins pitching coach but left to join LSU to be their pitching coach. It wasn’t a huge raise, but it was more. Tim Hudson is currently the pitching coach of his Alma Mater, Auburn.
Seems like a very good chance Wil Myers will end up the Reds primary 1B with Votto at DH when he’s ready to play. Seems like Cincy is where guys like Yuli Gurriel, Brandon Belt, and Jesus Aguilar’s agents should be calling
They are actually short on outfielders. So don’t see Myers playing there
I think they’ll utilize Myers at both positions. He will be traded by the deadline provided he rebounds.
The game was in a pretty brutal state last year for a .689 OPS to only be 8 percent below average. Here’s to hoping offence spikes up this season. Shift ban should help and hopefully they get rid of those stupid humidors.
If I could vote he has my HOF vote
Don’t see him as a hall of framer his numbers are following short. His career numbers are going end around Derek Lee and will Clark’s numbers which are a good maybe great career but not hall of fame worthy.
Will Clark is a better comparison but Derek Lee??? try looking at all categories instead on HR’s.
Look at the numbers for Joey bottom and than compare and it is Derek Lee and will Clark the closest
Lol in what way? Counting stats? In comparison to his peers he’s 45% better than the rest of the league. Lee and Clark were 20%. There’s a clear difference in how we are comparing players.
He’s like Derrek Lee with 450 more walks. In other words, way better.
He’ll get in, but probably not first ballot.
Already in.
Ha passed the Harold Baines minimum requirement. He’s in.
Votto signs of it’s the dodgers next year. Doesn’t need to make sense. Just cause.
Another Pujols type signing that sells jerseys for decades…
They’ve been smart on monetization. Even a year of a HOFer leads to profits from the fan base
Just so I understand, are you saying the Dodgers will be selling Pujols jerseys for decades or the Cardinals will be selling Pujols jerseys for decades?
His numbers are lacking for hall of fame
Can’t believe he didn’t make Allstar on 2021.
I didn’t know he wasn’t all-star in ’21. That is crazy. Had .938 OBS.
He didn’t get hot until after the allstar break
first ballot hall of famer
imagine if he played for a large-market team
Review his numbers they don’t stand tall enough to get him in. He falls around Derek Lee and Will Clark numbers which are below the standard bar. Reds hall of fame and jersey retired yes but not the big hall of fame
Those 2 aren’t even close to the tier of Votto.
from 2010-2017 (5,000 plate appearances) he averaged an OPS+ of 163. he’s a first ballot hall of famer
I’d love to see Votto on MLB Network with Sean Casey.
2023 The Votto, and Cabrera tour kicks off. The dead ball era will it end or continue. M.L.B likes to jimmy up the manufacturing of them so who knows ? For the Reds an the Tigers it’ll be years of high draft picks for awhile.
I just wish the umps use the Judge Juiced baseballs for Votto and Miggy.
I get to do the same surgery next week. Oh what fun.
Good luck.
I had that surgery. It is a painful recovery/rehab but worth going through. I now have zero pain and full range of motion.
Extention candidate – “lock him in!!!!!!”
Well atleast they can move moose over to first til he gets healthy. SMH……classic reds !
Moose is gone. Cut loose.
Right. Cut the dude they needed to play first at the start of the season while paying him 17 mil this season. Hence, classic reds ! Worse ran team in baseball !
The way he didn’t hit last year, I’d take Stephenson or Steer or maybe even Myers (though they need him in the outfield more) there over Moose any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
I am guessing they thought it was worth sending him away to open a roster spot to someone more deserving.
By the way, I agree they are not run well. Whether Bob is tying the kid GMs hands or he is just incompetent, we will never know probably.
They should be looking hard at strand to start season at first base. He’s 23, just played a full season w great numbers across the board while finishing the season in AA. Let him try to cement job or just send him down if he can’t when votto is ready.
I can see that. I get the feeling that is his future with the big club already.
Stephenson at C (or DH if the concussions continue)
Strand at 1B
India at 2B
McLain at SS
Marte at 3B
Steer in LF
De La Cruz in CF (he reminds me of Eric the Red)
Hendrick in RF
That’s pretty much where I think it is going.
Are they playing Sunday doubleheaders again! Nice!
Votto is a hall of famer for sure.
For all you OPS worshippers, he is the poster child. He often leads the league in on base percentage in a bad year. Billy Beane probably has his poster on his wall.
The career numbers are there for all to see and 2021 was awesome for a guy his age. Votto battled that injury all year in 2022 until he just couldn’t do it anymore. He was trying to be there for the team when a lot of guys would just bail because the season sucked.
What has always impressed me about the man is his humility and his leadership. In the early years, you would see him talking to Jay Bruce a lot. I think you all know Bruce was a different hitter after he left Cincinnati. You could say the same for Jesse Winker recently. He huddled with Joey a lot too.
No one worked harder at his craft. Dude is one of those first guys in the building and last to leave guys. He works at his defense which he says is always a work in progress despite the Gold Gloves. He admits his base running is the worse part of his game and works at that too. Of course it is pretty much legendary he tinkers with his hitting constantly and he wore out Ted Williams book on hitting.
I think Votto would be an awesome hitting coach but I see him with the Reds broadcasts or MLB Network like the mayor Sean Casey. He has great insights into the game and when he has been miked up the media has ate it up.
I think this is his last year and he is the kind of guy that if the recovery is not good enough to perform at what he calls the level he expects, he could very well call it a career early. Votto has a lot of pride.
Yeah, I admit I’m biased and admire the guy. I honestly don’t say that about a lot of players. Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, may he rest in peace, are on that short list too. I personally am glad that he is one of those guys that stayed with the same team his whole career. Obviously if he went to one of the large markets he probably would have been a bigger star and made more, but that doesn’t seem to be what he was looking for. I think he just loves the game like a lot of us do.
Sorry dude, just cause a guy works really hard and is first in and last out, doesn’t make him a HOFer. I’ve also never heard ANYONE talk about what a great leader or clubhouse guy he is. Vitro is done and deserves not, the HOF.
Playing winning baseball isn’t always about pure numbers. Remember “A walk is as good as a hit?” Maybe if he does swing a little and we knock off 15 walks a year that turn into hits. Now we’re pushing 400 HR and over .300 BA. Is that the bar for the HOF? Seems to me though that taking the BB was more intended to help his team win than put up stats, and I’ll take a guy like that in the HOF as opposed to the guy who just hang on forever compiling.
Have you ever heard anyone say he isn’t a great leader or clubhouse guy? I’m not in the locker room to judge either way.
Not a HOFer, just cause the dude works hard. Never heard a peep about what a great leader or clubhouse guy he is either. Reds HOF certainly. Actual HOF, nope.
He’s got an OPS+ of 145 over 16 years and 8500 plate appearances. He’s probably going to get in. He has the rate stats and longevity.
He’s a good guy to admire.
Awesome write-up! I’ve always had tremendous respect for Votto and enjoy him talking about hitting. He’s always been accountable for his lack of production to his standards in recent years. His ability and streak to not hit a pop-up was super-impressive.
Votto has put up great numbers overall, I don’t know if he’s Hall of Fame worthy but he’s closer than other candidates.
He’s a great baseball player and would love to see him finish his career in Toronto!
He woul.d be a hero there. Plus he would have easier access to Tim Hortons.
How could he not be a hall of famer?? Check out Hall Of Stats. He is ranked the 12th best first baseman of all time and 4th best Reds player ever. Seriously, if he were on the Cubs, Cards, Dodgers, Red Sox or Yanks, there would be no questioning what he has done.
He’s respected as a player and beloved as a personality. That’ll help him with HOF voters. But let’s worry about that when he’s retired. Right now, let’s root for him to come back and give us one more great show.