Canadian Legend Joey Votto Hits Home Run on His 1st Swing With the Toronto Blue Jays

In his first taste of in-game action since leaving the Cincinnati Reds, legendary slugger Joey Votto came through with a home run for the Toronto Blue Jays at Spring Training.

Joey Votto hit plenty of home runs in his 22 years with the Cincinnati Reds.

Including the postseason and Spring Training, Votto blasted 379 bombs in a Reds uniform. That doesn't include the 101 he hit for their minor league affiliates, either.

Now a newly-minted member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization, Votto wasted no time going deep with his hometown team.

Votto signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays on March 8, joining the club for the rest of Spring Training as part of the deal. He made his Grapefruit League debut Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, batting second and starting at first base.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler dealt Votto a 94 mile-per-hour fastball right down the middle. On the very first pitch he saw in a Toronto uniform, Votto turned on it and sent the ball flying.

Votto's deep line drive to left-center appeared to hit the top of the wall, and the 40 year-old slugger jogged into second safely.

The umpires ruled it a home run, though, and Votto was able to trot the rest of the way around the bases.

First pitch swinging 😮

It's @JoeyVotto's FIRST homer in a #BlueJays uniform! pic.twitter.com/1cVrONpJ0N

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 17, 2024

Votto remained in the field for the bottom of the first, although he didn't get a single chance for either a putout or an assist. He got subbed out midway through the second.

While it was short-lived, it was quite the showing for Votto, who is fighting for a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster. One of his biggest competitors, slugger Daniel Vogelbach, hit a double two at-bats after Votto got his home run, however.

Votto was born and raised in Toronto and has represented Canada at the World Baseball Classic on multiple occasions.

From the time he made his major league debut in 2007 through the 2023 season, Votto has racked up 2,135 hits, 356 home runs, 1,144 RBI and a 64.4 WAR in the regular season. The six-time All-Star and 2010 NL MVP is a .294 hitter for his career.

Votto hit .202 with 14 home runs, 38 RBI, a .747 OPS and a -0.1 WAR in 65 games last year.

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