Cincinnati Reds: Votto named Canada’s athlete of the year

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto on Tuesday was named Canada’s athlete of the year for 2017.

Votto is the 79th recipient of the Lou Marsh Trophy. He also won the award in 2010.

»RELATED: The numbers behind Votto’s amazing 2017 season

The 34-year-old Toronto native beat out finalists Sidney Crosby (hockey), Mikael Kingsbury (skiing), Alex Harvey (skiing) and Rachel Homan (curling).

Votto was the runner-up in National League Most Valuable Player voting after a remarkable 2017 season. He hit .320 with 36 home runs and 100 RBIs. Votto led the majors by reaching base 321 times and scored 106 runs. He played in all 162 games — the first Reds player to do so since Pete Rose in 1975 — and reached base in all but 12 games.

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