Though he may be towards the end of his career, slugger and first baseman Joey Votto has been one of the most influential and talented ballplayers in Cincinnati Reds history.
Votto entered the big leagues in 2007 and ultimately grabbed the starting first base job.
In his 16-year career, he has been an All-Star six times, and has won a Gold Glove and MVP Award.
He has also helped lead the Reds to the postseason four times, including two NL Central titles.
But Votto is more than just a superstar for the Reds and their fans.
Over the years, he has gone out of his way to befriend the fans in Cincinnati.
Votto chatted with his former teammate in MLB Network analyst Yonder Alonso and discussed what Cincinnati and the Reds mean to him.
Joey Votto is a Cincinnati Man through and through. 🤩
(📺 @MLBNetwork) pic.twitter.com/55o7K32HSD
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) February 27, 2023
The former MVP talked about how he essentially wears two different hats.
He says it’s important to him to have relationships with people in the Cincinnati community and to interact with his fans.
Votto talked about how that is one of the things that excites him the most for the season.
He missed the final two months of the 2022 season, but got a chance to interact with his fans while he recovered.
Votto discussed the importance of helping out in the community, which includes his food bank, youth academy, and participating in activities with the University of Cincinnati.
But beyond that, he feels connected to the fans and is truly grateful to play in front of them in Cincinnati.
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