DaytonDailyNews.com

SARASOTA, Fla. — Joey Votto usually is semi-ambulatory during spring training and those who haven't peeked at the back of his baseball card wonder, "Can this guy hit at all?"

Well, it is 2009 and Votto showed on Day One under game conditions, "It's a new year and it's a new me."

Votto saw two pitches Tuesday in an afternoon workout that evolved into an intrasquad game.

• Pitch One: Run-scoring double.

• Pitch Two: Three-run homer.

Vott's white-pants home team scored a 7-3 five-inning victory over the gray-pants visiting team.

Aaron Harang pitched the top of the first, a 1-2-3 10-pitch inning, "that was free and easy," then threw 20 more pitches in the bullpen.

"Trying to get out of here quick today," Votto said of his two pitches and two hits day.

Votto, 25, has reason to have his skills tuned early this spring. He leaves in a few days to join the Canadian World Baseball Classic team.

"Those were two decent pitches that I was able to put two decent swings on," said Votto.

Decent? A stinging double? A ringing home run?

"Sometimes you have a bad spring, but once you make the team all that matters is that you have a good season," he said.

Votto did not have a good spring last year (.206, two homers, seven RBIs in 63 at-bats)), but hit .308 the first month of the season and kept it going, finishing at .297 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs to finish second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

"I just want to be ready to play winning baseball when the season begins for the Reds," he said.

"First, though, I'm happy to play for my country and in Toronto, in front of family and friends."

Of his slow start last spring, Votto said, "That was last year and I've proven myself, so I'm not worried about anything."

Votto appears to have lost weight, but says hard workouts have made him, "stronger and leaner."

Hearing that, lockermate Chris Dickerson said, "Don't forget faster, too."

And Votto is upbeat about the 2009 Reds.

"We have a leadoff hitter who is completely locked in to batting leadoff (Willy Taveras) and there is no debating that.

"Adding (catcher) Ramon Hernandez is a big deal and getting shortstop Alex Gonzalez back (if he does return from injury) is probably the most important move of 2009," Votto added. "He is a shortstop who plays good defense with a solid bat."

Votto and Jay Bruce were contributing rookies last year and now know what The Show is all about.

"It is really important for a young player to get that first full year in and know what the grind is about, to know how difficult it is throughout the whole year."