By: Brian Frank
Joey Votto’s first night as a member of the Buffalo Bisons didn’t go as planned. The 2010 National League MVP and six-time All-Star was scheduled to play first base for the Herd, but tweaked his ankle during pregame infield and was scratched from the lineup.
“He rolled his ankle,” Bisons manager Casey Candaele said of Votto postgame. Candaele didn't arrive until the 10th inning of the Bisons 1-0 extra-innings win due to travel delays caused by global technology issues. “He’ll just be reevaluated tomorrow and he’s probably day to day. He was here getting treatment for most of the game from what I know. He’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll see.”
Candaele is excited about the prospect of adding a likely future Hall of Famer to the Bisons lineup.
“A hitter like that, that would be great,” Candaele said. “I’ve wanted to see him play. We had him in spring training and it was good. He’s a very good infielder and a good baseball guy. So, to get him out there with our young players would be really beneficial for them.”
Votto at Sahlen Field. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
Votto met with the media on Friday before he reinjured his ankle and talked at length about his attempt to return to the big leagues. A Toronto native, Votto signed with the Blue Jays during the spring after 22 years in the Reds organization, 17 of which were with the big-league club.
“It's been a new experience,” he said of joining a new organization. “At first it was tough, but it's good for me. So, I'm thankful to have an opportunity in a professional uniform, and to be inside of a major league organization – and I'm going to make the best, and I'm doing that right now. There's not a single day that I haven't poured my entire heart into this and given everything I could, every ounce of energy, every moment of discipline, whatever it is. I've done everything I can to get to this point – and I'm going to continue to do the same. So that's required whether I was in my former team’s uniform, or the Buffalo Bisons uniform, and I'm thankful for that.”
Votto was injured in spring training when he twisted his ankle by stepping on a bat in the Blue Jays’ dugout.
“I could tell it wasn't good,” he said. “I was optimistic that I would be able to turn it around pretty quickly. But it was what it was. It hurt. I could tell that I was not in a good way.”
The veteran first baseman made the best of his time out of action..
“I think that's a natural reaction to feel like I was so close,” he said when asked if it was frustrating to suffer an injury when he was swinging the bat well during the spring. “But you know, the past four months have allowed me to reflect on how lucky I've been and how much good fortune I've had in my career and with my health. It's been a wonderful challenge in that I've been able to do some reflecting and just kind of plug away at doing things day by day which is more or less what you need during a rehab process, especially when you're so close, when you're on the precipice of achieving that year's goals, then to have it – not taken away, but just have a setback. It can be frustrating, but oftentimes I found in the past that just kind of getting back down to the day by day as opposed to looking big picture.”
He’s pleased with the support he received from the Blue Jays’ organization throughout his time rehabbing from the injury.
“The organization has been supportive and patient, and they've allowed me to rehab at my body's pace and prepare my game at my body's pace,” he said. “It's been excellent. I have nothing but good things to say about my time down there. It's not easy, but it's gotten me here and I'm thankful to be here.”
Votto returned to action in mid-June, playing for the Rookie League FCL Blue Jays before being promoted to Low-A Dunedin. After 16 minor-league games, he feels like his swing isn’t quite where he wants it to be, but will eventually get back to his high standards with more at-bats.
“I don't feel fast enough yet, but that's the sort of thing that takes reps,” he explained. “I don't feel strong enough yet, but that's the sort of thing that takes reps. I feel healthy, and I feel confident, and I love the work. So that's where my body is right now.”
“I felt like I was trending nicely down in Florida, but I need more bats and I need to continue to immerse myself in the competition,” he added. “Then the game will let me know if I'm worthy. And that's the best part of this. That's the thing that excites me the most.”
Taking infield with the Herd. Photo credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
This will actually be Votto’s second time playing in the Queen City. He played here as a visiting player for the 2007 Louisville Bats, when he was a 23-year-old Cincinnati Reds prospect.
“I’m just I'm trying to think back,” Votto said when asked about his memories from the last time he played in Buffalo. “I enjoyed my minor league time in general, so I would say that I probably had a great time here. I just don't remember it vividly. It’s been a while now.”
“I don't remember much about the experience,” he continued, “other than I'm sure I had a great time, because again, (during) my minor league time I had great teammates. I like the challenge of it. There's something about going and trying to get better – and this is one of the stops along the way.”
He’s excited about joining the Bisons lineup and helping the team climb in the International League East standings.
“I'm in a frame of mind of competing and performing,” he said. “Oftentimes, when you're in spring training, you're trying to refine little parts of your game. Your swing specifically. For me, it's almost always been my swing has taken a while. But I have always found that it's about immersing myself in competition and chasing performance. It has more or less refined my game quicker than some sort of tinkering, time in the cage, or what have you. So I'm going to do everything I can to compete and help this team and to be a part of a win tonight and through the next stretch of time that I'm here and that'll solve my game.”
Votto is grateful to still be playing baseball – even if it's not at the major-league level. He embraces the idea of playing in the minors and competing to get back to the big leagues.
“I want to be here in Buffalo,” he said. “I love the game. I love to compete. I love to see if I still have the skills to be able to compete amongst my peers. I get that opportunity here against guys that have been called up before, guys that have some time in the major leagues, guys that are prospects that are trying to make their name. So this is the perfect place to be. I don't want to be anywhere else but here right now.”
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