Joey Votto is back to being an on-base machine
Despite their 42-51 record and already being 17.5 games behind in the NL Central, the Cincinnati Reds have had a few bright spots this season. Joey Votto’s return to MVP-caliber player is one of them.
Votto made some history in a doubleheader with the Cubs on Wednesday. Over the two games in the day-night doubleheader Votto safely reached base nine times. He is the first player to accomplish that feat since Robinson Cano in 2010.
Votto started the day by going 3-for-4 with a walk in the Reds’ 9-1 win. In the nightcap, a 6-5 loss, he went 2-for-2 with three walks, two of them intentional. Add it all up and Votto went 5-for-6 with four walks in the two games. He hit his 17th home run of the season and also raised his on-base percentage from .401 to .413 in a single day. That’s third-highest in the National League.
Votto has always been an on-base machine. He led the league in OBP for four consecutive years, from 2010 to 2013, and was the NL MVP in 2010. Last season he was limited to just 62 games due to a quadriceps injury, and was criticized for his lack of production. But this year the OBP, the power, and the run production have all returned. He’s tied for the team lead in WAR at 3.6.
MLB.com put his on-base percentage feat into context:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Votto is the fifth player in the last 20 years to reach base nine times in one day during doubleheaders. The others were:
1. Robinson Cano (Oct. 2, 2010) — six hits, two walks, HBP
2. Bobby Abreu (Aug. 18, 2006) — six hits, three walks
3. Hideki Matsui (June 28, 2003) — six hits, three walks, HBP
4. Eric Young (July 23, 1996) — seven hits, one walk, HBP
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
Ian Denomme is an editor and writer for Yahoo Sports. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter.
