Potomac's Joey Votto has hit twice as many home runs this year already as he did in his first two seasons as a professional. But the first baseman insists he's not doing anything special to boost his output.
"I feel the same as I did last year at the plate; I think I was just overmatched last year," said Votto, a 20-year-old considered one of the top power-hitting prospects in the Cincinnati Reds' organization. "It's just a progression for me, and I'm learning a lot as I go along."
Selected in the second round of the 2002 draft as a prep player from Toronto, Votto is starting to live up to his potential -- at least if you look at the box scores. Starting 2004 at less advanced Class A Dayton, he batted .302 with 14 home runs in 111 games. Last year in Ohio he hit just one home run in 60 games before being sent down to rookie league Billings (Mont.).
Votto has been on fire since joining the Cannons this month, hitting .370 with four home runs in 13 games. That translates into one home run every 24 at-bats this season at Class A, compared with one every 38 at-bats the previous two seasons spent mostly in the rookie leagues. He's also knocked in 85 runs this season in 123 games, almost equaling his output of his first 180 pro games (90 RBI).
Votto, just a year removed from being a teenager, says he has learned to take better care of himself during the long haul of a season.
"Last year there would be times when I wouldn't eat well, or I wouldn't get enough sleep, and that really got to me during the games," he said. "I'm getting a better feel of professional baseball and the lifestyle, and making sure I'm ready for games."
Since joining the Cannons, Votto is being aided by another Canadian; fellow first baseman Matt Logan is also from the Toronto area.
"He's always pulling me aside and helping me out if he sees something in my game," Votto said of Logan, who is four years older. "It's been great having someone around that I can relate to."
