NL MVP race has several contenders, but one stands above the rest
By Kyle Cardoza
Joey Votto
Among a field of contenders that are dipping their toes into the MLB waters – *ahem* Cody Bellinger – or continuing their rise into stardom, Joey Votto is the old dog with no new tricks.
Patience at the dish is his cornerstone and always has been. Votto ranked in the top 10 in walks in all but one season since 2010, with 2013 being the exception. His career stats in the category are somewhat ridiculous, as the first baseman has just 108 more strikeouts than walks overall.
Votto boasts power, too, and lots of it. He’s pieced together eight seasons with 20 or more home runs, garnering a .542 career slugging percentage in the process.
At 33 years old, he still has a shot at some of the Reds’ all-time records. He sits fewer than 150 walks behind Pete Rose for most walks in a Reds uniform and ranks fifth in all-time homers, a hefty 147 bombs behind Johnny Bench for No. 1.
Cincinnati won’t be playing for an NL pennant any time soon, but Votto should still have a solid chance at becoming this year’s MVP.
The Canadian star ranks in the top 10 in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage and RBI. He ranks first in on-base percentage and OPS. His WAR is the second-best in the NL.
Votto’s only weak point on the field is his defense. So far in 2017, he has cost the Reds more runs than he’s saved. But he’s never been much of a defender in the first place.
If he keeps up his torrid stretch at the plate, the left-handed slugger has a chance to claim the award for the second time in his career. So far, his numbers this year trump his MVP numbers from 2010.
2010 (150 games played): .324/.424/.600, 37 HR, 113 RBI, 16 SB
2017 (through 117 games): .316/.446/.605, 31 HR, 83 RBI, 3 SB