Joey Votto didn’t try very hard to hide where his heart still is on Sunday night.
Working the broadcast for the Cincinnati Reds’ game against the Chicago Cubs on a special edition of Sunday Night Baseball, the former Reds cornerstone made it plain that he still sees Cincinnati as more than just another baseball city. Votto was in the booth alongside Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo, and both ex-first basemen have started building out post-playing careers as broadcasters.
Votto’s comments landed with the force of someone who knows exactly what the franchise means and what it can still be.
“The city has charm. It has history.
We have the Big Red Machine. We have icons - some of the greatest players in the history of the sport wore our uniform.
Cincinnati needs to be a centerpiece place in Major League Baseball," Votto said during Sunday's broadcast of the Reds game against the Cubs.
The way he talked about the Reds made it sound like he never really left. That kind of attachment was on display throughout the broadcast, with Votto speaking about Cincinnati as a place that still deserves a major spot on the sport’s stage.
The bigger point, though, was what he represents for the organization now. The source material points to the idea that the Reds should find a way to bring him back into the fold, potentially in a front office role. Votto also talked about how important veteran leadership is for young players such as Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz, and that perspective carries real weight because he’s lived it.
There’s also the baseball side of it. Votto adjusted as the game changed around him, and that helped extend his career. His ability to embrace the modern approach to hitting, including driving the ball in the air to the pull side, was part of why he was able to hit over 30 home runs in 2021 and keep playing into the later stages of his career.
For the Reds, that mix of knowledge, conviction and passion is hard to ignore. Votto believes in Cincinnati, and Sunday night made it clear that he still thinks the organization should be a centerpiece in Major League Baseball.
In Other News...
Eugenio Suarez Will Miss Reds Games For A Moment Bigger Than Baseball
Eugenio Surez will be away from the Reds for a couple of days this week, but for a reason that reaches well beyond the box score. The veteran infielder is set to miss Cincinnatis games against the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday while he takes his naturalization test as he continues his pursuit of U.S. citizenship, a milestone that carries extra meaning for a player who has spent multiple seasons building a strong bond with the city.
Surezs absence comes as Cincinnati keeps leaning on its power bats and the emergence of rookie Sal Stewart, who has already put together a noteworthy season at the plate. Even so, this is the kind of moment that reminds everyone around the club that baseball is only part of the story, and for Surez, the next step is one he has been working toward for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Added Two Question Marks At The Worst Time
The Reds brought Brandon Williamson back from the 6-day injured list and added Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville as they try to patch together a roster at a time when every inning and every at-bat feels magnified. Williamson had already made six starts before landing on the shelf with a shoulder injury, and Cincinnati is clearly hoping his return gives the rotation a needed lift as the schedule keeps moving.
Britos arrival adds another layer, though his role looks likely to be modest after coming over from the Guardians at the trade deadline. The infielder is expected to see limited playing time, which leaves the Reds with two newcomers who are still trying to find their footing while the club keeps sorting out its depth and health issues. [Read more 🡒]
Eugenio Surezs Absence Forced A Reds Infield Change
Eugenio Surez is away from the Reds for the final two games of the series against the Padres, leaving Cincinnati to juggle its infield a little differently while he steps away to take his U.S. citizenship naturalization test. It is the kind of brief but unavoidable absence that forces a roster to absorb the change quickly, and the club answered by bringing up infielder Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville to add depth.
Terry Francona and Brito both addressed the move, underscoring that the Reds are treating it as a practical roster adjustment rather than anything more disruptive. Still, whenever a regular is pulled out of the lineup for even a short stretch, it creates a small test of flexibility, and Cincinnati will spend the next couple of games sorting out how best to cover the infield until Surez returns. [Read more 🡒]