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Joey Votto announced his retirement on Wednesday, raising a question that won’t be answered for five years.
Is it long lasting? Cincinnati Reds Which first baseman is a Hall of Famer?
The 2010 National League MVP finished his 17-year career with a .294 average, a .409 on-base percentage, and a .920 on-base percentage, and was one of the most respected players in the game.
Votto made his major league debut in 2007 after the “steroid era,” and he was a different kind of hitter than the powerhouse first basemen of the generation before him. Votto won a Gold Glove and hit 30 home runs only three times in his career (2010, 2017, 2021), but he was one of the most powerful hitters in baseball, leading the National League in on-base percentage seven times in a nine-year span from 2010 to 2018.
Photo tried to get back with his hometown. Toronto Blue Jays This season, however, he struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness after signing a minor league deal, before eventually announcing the end of his career.
Here’s a look at Votto’s Hall of Fame case:
Joey Photo Case
Among players who have scored 7,000 career runs, Votto’s on-base percentage (.409) is ninth-best in the integration era (since 1947), trailing six Hall of Famers, Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez. Of the top 15 players (including Votto) on that list, 11 are Hall of Famers.
Although Votto’s home run numbers weren’t outstanding every year, his batting percentage was usually in the top 10, including a National League-best .600 in his 2010 MVP campaign.
Since 2008, Votto has ranked first among all batters in walks (1,360), sixth in strikeouts (2,108) and fifth in games played (2,032).
The case against Joey Foto
Votto’s unspectacular home run statistics will be used against him when he makes his Hall of Fame debut in 2029. His home run total (356) will worry voters, especially considering Votto has spent his entire career in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the major leagues.
There were other criticisms of Votto, with one saying he walked “too many” and would have been better off swinging the bat more. Dusty Baker once said “The on-base percentage is good, but the RBIs are better.”
During his 17 seasons, Votto topped 80 RBIs only eight times — a surprise given his all-around batting prowess and his perennial place at the heart of Cincinnati’s order at Great American Ball Park.
The verdict
He may not be on the first ballot, but there’s a better chance than not that Joey Votto gets a spot in the Hall of Fame.
The beloved Votto has an interesting case as a first baseman who didn’t necessarily post huge power numbers. However, the bar for entry into the Hall of Fame seems to have dropped in recent years, with players like Todd Helton, Scott Rolen and Joe Mauer winning induction with less impressive stats than was required in the past.
Voted in his sixth attempt in 2024, Hilton may be Foto’s closest modern comparison. Hilton’s overall stats were better – Not much – But Votto had a higher WAR (64.5 vs. Hilton’s 61.8) and Colorado’s longtime first baseman suffered a similar decline in power as he aged. In contrast to Votto’s numbers, Hilton’s early career exploits must also be viewed in the context of the steroid era.
The next few years of voting should provide some insight into Votto’s Hall of Fame prospects with hitters like Ryan Braun (2026) and Buster Posey (2027) making their first appearances on the ballot, as well as the potential inclusion of Andro Jones (61.6% in 2024) and Carlos Beltran (57.1%).