info@baseball.ca  (613) 748-5606

News

Image

Votto among finalists for National League Most Valuable Player

OTTAWA- Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was announced as one of three finalists for the National League’s Most Valuable Player award along with Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins and Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks with the winner being announced on November 16th.

After winning the NL MVP in 2010, Votto will be looking to capture his second award and has the numbers to so.

For the second time in his career, the Etobicoke, Ontario native played in all 162 games and led all National League eligible batters in walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was among the top ten in the league in home runs (36) and RBI (100) while placing fourth with a .320 batting average.

Votto’s impressive campaign was further enhanced by the fact that he reached base in 150 of the 162 games he played including streaks of 32, 29 and 27 games. He also entered some rare company joining Babe Ruth and Ted Williams as the only players in MLB history to record at least 179 hits, 36 homers, and 134 walks with 83 or fewer strikeouts.

"It's very exciting, and I'm honored to have been amongst the finalists," said Votto. "These are two guys that I have a great deal of respect for, and there are several guys that weren't amongst the finalists that I have a great deal of respect for, so just being in that conversation is meaningful to me."

Stanton led the big leagues in home runs and RBI with 59 and 132 respectively while Goldschmidt matched Votto’s home run output with 36 and drove in 120 runs for a Diamondbacks squad that advanced to the National League Division Series.

The MVP finalist nomination is the latest honour for Votto who was a National League All-Star in 2017 and was recently named a finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award at first base while also being a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award that was won by Stanton last month.

Votto has represented Canada three times in international competition including the IBAF Baseball World Cup in 2005 and two World Baseball Classic events in 2009 and 2013. 

(Photo: Getty Images)


Partners