Verge: Still chasing a dream born in Etobicoke, Votto may start at Dunedin

Former Etobicoke Ranger Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) is 1-for-1 this spring with a home run on the first pitch he saw, but rolled his ankle on a bat in the dugout at Clearwater.

March 24, 2024

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

A smooth swing of No. 19’s bat on a sunny day in Cincinnati.

A sprint across the diamond that ends with a slide, splattering Joey Votto’s bright white pants with dirt.

High-fives from teammates when he gets back to the dugout.

Everything that encompasses the game, from swinging a bat and getting dirty, to the camaraderie with his teammates, is what Votto says he’s always loved about the sport. That long lasting passion is what has the athlete getting ready for another season 22 years after his first in pro ball with the rookie-class Gulf Coast Reds.

Although his team, and his number are different this spring after signing with the Toronto Blue Jays, his goal is the same as it was as an 18-year-old in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

“I think the core of it is the same, I still want to perform well, I want to chase a dream,” said Votto from Dunedin.

That dream started as a young Canadian kid growing up in Etobicoke throwing the ball around with his dad, also named Joseph. His father, who passed away in 2008, introduced him to the sport that would become his livelihood.

Baseball not only fit with his skills, but his personality, he said, as a sport with individual and team components.

“I desperately want to be social and in a group, but I do have a little bit of an individualistic side to me, and an introverted side to me that likes to focus on one thing,” he said.

He was drafted out of high school in the second round in 2002 by the Reds -- the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals also had interest -- and he spent five seasons in the minors. Minor League life wasn’t glamorous, but Votto now looks back on it as a right of passage. He and his teammates took marathon bus rides of eight, 10, sometimes 12 hours, where he would sometimes nap on the floor of the bus.

He made his big-league debut in 2007, and despite his talents, there was still an adjustment period. It took him “three, or four years,” into his career before he started feeling fully confident and comfortable, he said.

And once there, he flourished. To date, the six time all-star has 2,135 hits throughout his career, 356 of those home runs. He’s one of only 21 players with a minimum of 8,000 career plate appearances to hit at least .294 with an on-base percentage of .400 (.409) and a slugging percentage of .500 (.511)

It’s a killer combo of talent meets love that has fueled his lengthy career in the majors - and ultimately landed him a spot this year at Blue Jays spring training.

In order to perform at his best, he usually keeps to himself, he said, but potentially being back in the city will mean he can maintain his routine, and also meet up with his mom for tea or coffee on an off day if he wants, or spend time with his niece and nephew.

“Priority No. 1 is performing well, but there’s a real chance that I can have a bit more of a balance playing in Toronto,” he said.

The all-star athlete has only recently gotten involved on social media, making his debut on Twitter, now known as X in 2022. It was motivated by his desire to build relationships with people he wouldn’t have normally had the chance to, and connect with fans, he said.

Another way he’s connecting with fans - in his one at bat for the Jays this spring he homered, driving the ball 392 feet to left-centre to start off his time in a Jays uniform with a bang. However after rolling his ankle by accidentally stepping on a bat in the dugout shortly after, he’ll likely start the season in Dunedin, he said.

He still has plenty of at bats he needs to accumulate, sprints he needs to run, and ground balls to take before he’s ready. When he’s got the reps and training in, from there, they’ll have a conversation to see what’s next, he said.

His goal when he does get the call - to help his team, Canada’s team - the expansion team watched growing up as he grew up in the GTA - win.

“This is a strong club,” he said. “And if I can help in any way move this club, the Toronto Blue Jays towards a championship, towards a deep playoff run, shock the baseball world, and to make right all the goals of our players and front office and coaching staff, I’m all in for that,” Votto said. “And I hope I can help in any way.”

It’s a love that began growing up on the outskirts of the city playing catch with his dad, and has brought him back to the city in a full circle moment.

Some loves die, some lessen with time. But the passion Votto feels for the game has grown the more times the 40-year-old has taken the field or stepped up to the plate.

It’s joy in the small things that baseball brings for him - a smooth swing, a catch with a friend on a sunny day. Getting that pristine uniform covered in dirt. High fives in the dugout after a particularly impressive play or at bat.

“I think I’ve just always been in love with the sport,” he said.

“I [always] enjoyed the craft but I think now I’m enjoying it as much as I ever have.”