Joey Votto had a pointed pregame message for Elly De La Cruz before Cincinnati’s game against the Cubs in Chicago.
During NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, the former Reds star said he pulled De La Cruz aside and told him to keep an eye on Pete Crow-Armstrong. Votto framed it as a prediction for what De La Cruz’s future could look like.
"I had a conversation before the game and told him, 'I want you to watch (Pete Crow-Armstrong) today. When PCA gets these MVP chants, that's going to be Elly De La Cruz in 2027.'
And I think he's motivated. … He has every single tool identical to PCA.
He just has not tapped into his full potential. And his full potential is best player in baseball."
Votto also singled out another Reds infielder, Sal Stewart, saying he’s been impressed by the way Stewart has played this year.
"He's had a special year," Votto said.
Before the game, Votto talked about how a moment at Wrigley Field early in his MLB career left a lasting mark on him.
He also addressed Reds fans in a video posted to his Instagram story ahead of the broadcast, where he’s working as an analyst.
Earlier in July, Votto explained on Sunday Night Baseball why he has never been to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
And during his NBC Sunday Night Baseball debut on July 26, Votto was asked whether he ever pushed to play the outfield, a question that brought up a painful memory.
In Other News...
Edwin Arroyo Just Got A Reds Chance That Could Change The Infield
Edwin Arroyo is back in the big leagues with another opening to make a case for himself, and this one comes at an important moment for the Reds infield. Cincinnati recalled the infielder from Triple-A Louisville after KeBryan Hayes landed on the injured list, giving the club a fresh option to help cover third base and possibly reset a position that has been in flux.
Arroyo has played well at Louisville, but his first major league look did not go smoothly, with struggles on both sides of the ball. Even so, Terry Francona sounded interested in seeing what the young infielder can do with a more defined opportunity this time around, and the Reds are expected to give him a look at third base as they sort through the next stretch without Hayes. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Votto Just Gave Reds Fans A Reason To Show Up At Wrigley
Joey Votto is giving Reds fans another reason to circle the calendar for the trip to Wrigley Field on Aug. 30. The former Cincinnati star posted a message on his Instagram story inviting fans to meet him there during the Reds-Cubs game, where he will be on hand as an analyst for NBCs Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
Votto has been a compelling voice in his post-playing appearances, using previous NBC broadcasts to talk about everything from his career to never having visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He also addressed questions about whether he might eventually work for the Reds on MLB Networks MLB Now, which only adds another layer to what should be a notable night for Cincinnati fans watching from the ballpark. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Made A Telling Kien Vu Decision After His Bat Cooled Off
The Reds moved Kien Vu from Double-A Chattanooga back to High-A Dayton after an injury to outfielder Kyle Henley opened up a spot, a reset that says plenty about where the organization thinks Vu stands right now. He had earned his way up with a strong run in Dayton earlier this season, but the bat never fully carried over in Chattanooga, and the return trip gives him a chance to get back to the level where he looked far more comfortable.
It also fits into a broader player-development picture for Cincinnati, with the club still sorting through the next wave in its Dominican Summer League and keeping an eye on prospects who could be headed stateside soon. For Vu, the assignment is less about a setback than a chance to rediscover the approach and production that pushed him forward in the first place, even if the road back to Double-A now looks a little longer. [Read more 🡒]