Joey Votto, MLB’s greatest active Canadian-born player, returned to Toronto for what perhaps may be the final series of his career against his hometown Toronto Blue Jays. His ability to play in the series was in doubt after he contracted COVID-19 earlier this month, but the Reds veteran was able to complete a minor-league rehab assignment in time to join his team north of the border. The six-time All-Star has had a quiet start to the 2022 season, batting .141/.284/.212, but home cooking could remedy his ailing offense.
The Reds veteran collected a hit in every game of the series. A go-ahead home run, Votto’s first of the season, against Yimi GarcÃa in the 8th inning of Sunday’s contest against the Blue Jays proved to be the decisive blow in Cincinnati’s 3-2 victory, salvaging the series for the 12-28 Reds. The 2010 MVP called his shot between pitches before lining GarcÃa’s 2-0 curveball off the right field second deck.
Got to capture a Joey Votto HR in front of his hometown. A pretty special moment for Etobicoke's very own https://t.co/Ux7GfCcMRe
— kishan (@_kishanmistry) May 23, 2022
His 2022 campaign continues with a series against the Chicago Cubs, who will visit the Reds for four games starting tonight at 6:40 PM ET. Votto enjoys a .312/.418/.575 batting line against the Northsiders with 46 career home runs. Look for the hometown game-winner and an extended series versus a 16-24 Cubs team which he has a long history of torturing to ignite a Votto hot streak. Drew Smyly (1-5, 3.97 ERA in seven starts) will open for the visitors against Vladimir Gutiérrez (0-5, 8.65 ERA in 6 starts) in a Central Division basement battle.
Featured Image: Joey Votto, first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, batting at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on May 30, 2018, by Keeton Gale / Shutterstock.com.
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