Each MLB team’s current Hall of Famer
Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto
Certainly one of the most underappreciated superstars of his generation, Votto came to the Reds as a second round draft pick in 2002 and worked his way to the majors for a late 2007 call up. He hit .321 in 24 September games, and he’s simply kept hitting ever since.
While the Reds team around him has waxed and waned in its level of competitiveness, Votto has been steady in his production, leading the league 6 times in on base percentage, once in doubles, and twice in OPS+. He’s also led the league 5 times in walks, once in slugging, and twice in OPS.
Oddly, however, since winning the 2010 MVP, Votto has been underrated on a national scale. He’s even been ridiculed in his home market for taking walks rather than swinging from his heels at everything thrown his way!
In all seriousness, we very well have not seen a more gifted natural hitter in this generation than Votto. He has an exceptional understanding of the strike zone, of his own swing, and of the mechanics involved in his swing. His stats may not ring in strong for a first baseman with many voters because he has only had two seasons with 30+ home runs, but he has been a tremendous hitter throughout.
Votto is signed through 2023, his age-39 season. He will certainly regress in some areas by that point, but with his exceptional eye, he should be able to continue to produce quality batting average and on base. With his average production over the past four seasons taken out over that time along with some built-in regression, he would finish with over 2,400 hits, over 400 home runs, over 500 doubles, and over 1,500 walks.
Only 7 players have ever reached those numbers, and their names really give an idea of what level Votto has been playing at over his career – Barry Bonds, Lou Gehrig, Chipper Jones, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski. Votto could be counted among the best to wear the Reds logo on his plaque when he is elected to the MLB Hall of Fame.
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