Surely there cannot be a more obvious choice in the whole of baseball.
Joseph Daniel Votto is not only the best first baseman the Reds have had this decade, he’s arguably been the best hitter in the whole game over the last 10 years not named Mike Trout.
Let’s take a look …
- Home runs: 231 (18th best)
- RBI: 759 (20th)
- Runs: 847 (4th)
- Batting average: .306 (4th)
- On-base percentage: .428 (1st)
- wRC+: 153 (2nd)
- WAR: 48.1 (3rd)
Also, he hit more doubles than anyone else, his 0.96 BB/K is the best rate of the decade, and he took over 100 walks more than second-place Carlos Santana.
One of the most frustrating aspects about following the Reds is the constant online drivel from fans stuck with a 1970s-mindset who overvalue hits and RBI, and therefore continuously under-appreciate the Canadian.
Embed from Getty ImagesVotto is unquestionably the best player the Reds have had in my time of watching baseball. I dont’ think he will be fully appreciated until he retires … which I hope is in many years.
Just so you know, the best of the other Reds first base contenders was Yonder Alonso who hit .299 with .354 OBP in 69 games. Jack Hannahan and Brayan Pena combined for -1.0 WAR in nearly 1,000 plate appearances.
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Photos by Abbie Parr & Joe Robbins
4000 miles from Ohio 