(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Reds have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises this season.
Out of nowhere, the Reds have pulled off a nine-game winning streak and gained sole possession of first place in the weak NL Central division.
The team got even stronger on Monday night with the return of veteran slugger and former MVP Joey Votto.
Votto homered as the Reds pulled off a 5-4 comeback win over the Colorado Rockies to run their streak up to nine games.
The former MVP gave the Reds a much-needed boost.
On MLB Network, former MLB star Mark DeRosa discussed Votto’s return and what it means for the surging Reds.
With @JoeyVotto back, the @Reds are ready to get even stronger #MLBCentral | @markdero7 pic.twitter.com/8THxo0ZEuV
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 20, 2023
In addition to his MVP season in 2010, Votto is a seven-time league leader in on-base percentage and a six-time All-Star.
He also owns a career WAR of 64.7.
DeRosa believes that Votto’s return has given the Reds an extra boost as they now lead the NL Central.
After his home run, his Reds teammates put a cape and a viking helmet on him as he celebrated with the raucous crowd at Great American Ballpark.
The veteran slugger also had a two-run single that put the Reds ahead 5-4 after they had briefly fallen behind.
DeRosa stated that Votto’s energy is something that the young Reds can feed off of as they move deeper into the 2023 season and attempt to capture their first NL Central title since 2012.
The 39-year-old owns a career batting average of .297 with 343 home runs and 1,109 RBI over his 17 seasons in MLB.
The post Former MLB Star Discusses Joey Votto’s Return appeared first on The Cold Wire.