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Joey Votto – Making the case for Hall of Fame consideration

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Earlier this week, veteran Canadian slugger Joey Votto announced via social media that he was hanging up his cleats after 17 seasons in the big leagues. Votto was in triple-A Buffalo at the time of the announcement after signing a MiLB deal with the Toronto Blue Jays during Spring Training. The first baseman was working his way back to the big leagues after spending his entire career in the NL Central with the Cincinnati Reds, who cut ties with him last offseason.

Upon retiring, Votto led all Canadian-born MLB players in numerous offensive statistical categories or sat just behind Hall of Famer Larry Walker in the standings – establishing himself as one of the top Canuck baseball players to ever grace a Major League diamond. While the first baseman is a shoo-in for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, will the accolade extend to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown when he is eligible in five years?

Let’s take a look at the stats.

Votto’s calling card for his career was his work at the plate, where he established himself as one of the top hitters in the league from 2009 to 2018. The Reds infielder won the 2010 NL MVP Award and was a six-time All-Star that led the league in numerous slash line statistics over the years, routinely finding himself in the MVP conversation year after year. Overall, Votto amassed a .294/.409/.511 slash line with 356 home runs, 1144 RBIs, and a .920 OPS and a 144 OPS+ through 2056 games – a Canadian record.

Making the case for Joey Votto to make the Hall of Fame

Amongst the Major League history leaderboards, Votto retired in the top 100 of all players in terms of walks (34), OBP (42), OPS (53), SLG (89), and home runs (92). He also finished 144th in terms of bWAR (64.5) and ranked ahead of current Hall of Famers such as Roy Halladay, Hal Newhouser, Yogi Berra, and Willie Stargell (amongst others). Votto was the go-to veteran on the Reds roster and finished in the top five of numerous franchise categories as well – a welcome accomplishment for an organization that has been around before the 1900s.

For Votto, his accomplishments weren’t always as eye-popping and pretty in terms of home runs or RBIs – he broke the 30-home run plateau and 100+ RBI mark just three times in his career – but he was an on-base machine that has the “because he gets on base” Moneyball scene playing on repeat. He led the NL in OBP on seven different occasions and led all the Major Leagues three times as well, with the left-handed batter proving to be a tough at-bat time and time again while still being able to hit the ball over the fence on occasion.

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Amongst first-base JAWS leaders, Votto sits 12th all-time with a 55.7 mark and sits above the average for HOF’s at the position (53.4). While the JAWS metric is not set in stone, the SABR math supports Votto and his case for the Hall of Fame and his bWAR ranks pretty close to the group – another point in favour of the Etobicoke product.

All in all, considering the voting process is based on BBWAA-accredited voters, anything can happen. Considering Votto suited up and was one of the tougher at-bats following the Steroid Era in baseball, he will likely earn brownie points for his ability to put the ball in play even with the mark on his power in a hitter-friendly park. It will also depend on who is on the voter card at the time, as Votto could lose favour for other players if the class is stacked – a similar fate that befell Carlos Delgado. Right now, he will be a first-time entry alongside Josh Donaldson, Miguel Cabrera, and Corey Kluber on the 2029 ballot.

While Votto may not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the first baseman will likely find his way into Cooperstown over the years given his track record in the big leagues. Should he be elected, he would become the third Canadian to join Cooperstown, following in the footsteps of Walker and Fergie Jenkins.