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Fantasy Baseball Profile: Where Do You Stand on Joey Votto?

Ryan LesterFeb 4, 2010

Joey Votto ย is really a hot button player this year. Some really love him, while others want no parts of him. I think Iโ€™m somewhere in the middle.ย 

I understand the concern since Votto โ€™s career highs in runs (82), HRs (25), and RBIs (84) by no means scream fantasy starting first basemen. I canโ€™t fault you if his mysterious absence last year has you concerned. Nor can I fault you if you think heโ€™s overvalued given an ADP that puts him in the early third round. Personally I have him as my 9th ranked 1B (click to see the rankings ).

Putting all of that aside, I love his potential. Heโ€™s a career .310 hitter with a .924 OPS. While heโ€™s not a prototypical power hitter, he has hit 49 the past two years with 70 doubles. The addition of Orlando Cabrera should lead to more RBI opportunities.ย 

While he plays in a hitterโ€™s park, he is equally as effective on the road.

Home: ย 528 AB, 86 R, 160 H, 31 2B, 3 3B, 32 HR, 99 RBI, .303 BA, .939 OPS
Away: ย 551 AB, 76 R, 174 H, 46 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 86 RBI, .316 BA, .909 OPS

He has picked apart his division to the tune of .317 with 32 HRs and 99 RBIs in 156 games.

Votto will turn 27 in September and is in his third full year in the bigs. If anyone has breakout written all over them, itโ€™s Votto. That doesnโ€™t mean I think you should take him early in the third round, but I would have no problem if he slipped to the 4th, even if I had him penciled in for my IF slot.

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