As the 2024 MLB season winds down, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves playing more for pride than playoff contention. However, amidst the usual trade rumors and roster shuffles, an intriguing storyline has emerged that has caught the attention of fans and insiders alike: Will Joey Votto, the former National League MVP and Canadian baseball icon, finally make his debut with the Blue Jays?
Votto, who hails from Ontario and has spent 17 illustrious seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays during Spring Training. It was a move that sparked excitement among fans who dreamed of seeing the hometown hero don the Blue Jays uniform. Unfortunately, Votto's journey this season has been anything but smooth. A severe ankle injury in March kept him out for the first four months of the season, and his return to the field has been marked by struggles at the plate. In his brief stint with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Votto has managed a modest .211 batting average, with only one home run in nine games.
With these challenges in mind, some insiders are beginning to question whether Votto will ever play for Toronto this season. ESPN's Buster Olney recently shared his doubts, expressing concern about Votto's physical condition and whether the veteran first baseman is ready, or even willing, to take on the grind of a late-season call-up. "I personally would be excited to see Votto back on a major-league field," Olney said, "but I’m wondering how he’d process all that. I don’t know how he’s feeling physically and if he’s not 100 percent, I don’t know what he wants to do."
One potential highlight on the horizon is the upcoming series between the Blue Jays and the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre, scheduled for August 19-21. It would be a storybook moment for Votto to debut against the team where he made his name, bringing his career full circle in front of Canadian fans. Yet, Olney suggests that calling up Votto for such an emotional series would be a significant commitment for both the player and the team, as it could mean a spot on the roster for the remainder of the season. "If you call him up for the series against the Reds, it means you’re committed to him pretty much for the end of the month of September. While I think it would be cool, I don’t know how Votto would feel about that," Olney added.
As the Blue Jays weigh their options, the decision to bring Votto up to the majors is likely as much his to make as it is theirs. For fans, the prospect of seeing Joey Votto in a Blue Jays uniform remains an enticing possibility, a chance to witness a beloved player potentially end his career where his baseball journey began. Whether this dream becomes a reality, however, remains to be seen.
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