Cincinnati Reds: The underappreciated Joey Votto

Over the course of major league history, there have been six players who have led the league on on base percentage at least seven times. Most of that list reads as a Who’s Who of the inner circle in the Hall of Fame  – Ted Williams, Babe Ruth,  Barry Bonds (eventually), Rogers Hornsby, and Ty Cobb. Then, tied with Cobb, is Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto.

Back in his heyday, Votto was an on base machine. He led the league in on base percentage for four consecutive years from 2010 through 2013, then followed that stretch up by leading the NL again from 2016 through 2018. Votto had a .436 on base percentage in that nine year span, posting an OBP under .400 just once (he was at .390 that season).

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto does not get enough attention

Drawing walks and getting on base may not get much attention, but Votto has been a master at that throughout his career. In addition to leading the league in OBP seven times, Votto has led the league in walks five times, drawing 1228 bases on balls in his career. He has posted a 15.9% walk rate, nearly double the major league average.

Votto has had a strong career. A six time All Star, he was named the 2010 NL MVP and has finished in the top three on two other occasions. He has posted a career .303/.418/.516 batting line, hitting exactly 300 homers and driving in 983 runs. Once he returns from his stint on the Injured List, it is a matter of time before he reaches the 1000 RBI and 2000 hit plateaus.

Despite that strong resume, Votto is never really considered amongst the best players of his time. His Hall of Fame candidacy is questionable at best as his 60.6 bWAR ranks behind the likes of Willie Randolph and Willie Davis. As he is already 37 years old, unless Votto goes on an impressive surge in the latter stages of his career, those numbers may not improve enough to warrant more consideration.

And yet, Votto is already amongst some of the greatest players that have ever set foot in the batter’s box in the majors. The list of those players who have led the league on OBP seven or more times is truly impressive, a collection that Votto would seemingly never be considered with. Maybe we have not given him enough credit for a strong career.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has had a solid career. And yet, his overall performance may not have garnered the attention it deserves.