Joey Votto wasted no time in leaving his mark, smashing a home run on the very first pitch he faced as a Toronto Blue Jay, his hometown team.
Facing off against Philadelphia Phillies’ ace Zack Wheeler in Clearwater, Florida, Votto’s powerful hit soared 392 feet to left-center field, marking an explosive start to his tenure with the Blue Jays.
Although there was some initial uncertainty about whether the ball cleared the fence, Votto briefly paused at second base. However, the umpires confirmed it was a home run, prompting Votto to continue his trot around the bases.
Votto’s return to Toronto was fueled by the desire to play in his hometown, leading him to sign a minor league contract with the Blue Jays earlier this month.
This move came after an illustrious 17-year career with the Cincinnati Reds.
As a key figure for the Reds, Votto earned six All-Star selections and secured the NL MVP award in 2010. Over his career, he has maintained an impressive .294 batting average with 356 home runs, 1,144 RBIs, and a remarkable .409 on-base percentage across 2,056 games.
Following the conclusion of his monumental $251.5 million, 12-year deal with the Reds last fall, Cincinnati opted not to exercise Votto’s $20 million option for the 2024 season.
