Votto appears to be the man at first
Dusty Baker’s year off seems to have gotten him over his fetish for old guys. With the way he’s talking right now, it seems like Joey Votto will get every chance to replace Scott Hatteberg at first base for the Reds.
“What’s Hatteberg? Thirty-eight?” Baker said. “Votto’s the future here. I talked to Hatteberg about Votto. He thinks he’s going to be a heck of a player. He’s not conceding his position. I think he understands to be part of the club that Votto might have to be a major part of it. It might be Votto’s time.”
Hatteberg has been the man at first base for the Reds for the last two years, and played well enough to keep his job over the temptations to move Adam Dunn to first and have a better fielding outfield, but now he’s looking up at a top prospect with star potential. Votto would provide more power and speed for the Reds out of the first base position, averaging 24 homers and 21 steals over the last two seasons in the minors.
Before getting the call last year, Votto hit .294 with 22 home runs and 92 RBI in 133 games at Triple-A Louisville. The majors didn’t slow him down any, as he responded to the call and finished his 2007 season by batting .321 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 24 games with the Reds.
Filed under: Cincinnati Reds