McCoy: Votto apologizes to 6-year-old fan after first-inning ejection

And he has no regrets.

“I was thinking about it last night in bed and my mom always told me I have my late father’s temper. With today (Sunday) being Father’s Day, I was thinking about would he have been proud. And … yeah … he would have. For sure. So, Happy Father’s Day, everyone.”

Votto said his father would have been proud of him standing up for what he thought was right. Third base umpire Chris Guccione ruled that Votto did not check his swing on a strike three.

Votto began walking up the third base line, yammering at Guccione. Plate umpire Ryan Additon appeared to say something to Votto that torched his temper. He had to be restrained several times from getting face-to-face with Additon.

Asked about what was said in the back-and-forth that earned him an ejection, Votto said, “The specifics are not as entertaining if I give the ins-and-outs of it. Yeah, it doesn’t really matter. Nobody really wants to find out how fireworks work. He was right to throw me out, there was no question about it.”

As Votto left the field, a little girl named Abigail, sitting behind the Reds dugout, wearing a red Votto T-shirt, began sobbing. Abigail, 6, was attending her first MLB game, according to a tweet from her mother Kristin Courtney, a Greenville, Ohio native.

The family drove down from Los Angeles to attend the game. Because of Votto, Abigail plays first base in T-ball.

Courtney tweeted a photo of Abigail crying after the Votto ejection. Reds general manager Nick Krall and clubhouse manager Rick Stowe spotted it and amends were made.

Votto signed a baseball that read: “I am sorry I didn’t play the entire game.” And the Reds left free tickets for Sunday’s game.

“If this was any other year, I would have had her on the field today (Sunday),” said Votto. COVID-19 protocols prevent that. “I would have somehow sneaked into the stands and given her a hug in street clothes.”

If nothing else, it was a lesson for Votto.

“It is part of my responsibility to stay in the game, he said. “I might get tossed, but then fans miss out the opportunity to watch me, or their favorite player that gets tossed. The fan misses out.

“That bums me out, especially if people hop on planes, or travel, or rent hotels,” he said. “It’s why I take so much pride in playing every day. There is something to being out there for the fan that makes the trip or it’s their first time.

“I’ve had plenty of people tell me, ‘This is my first game. You play a good game. You’re my favorite player.’ If I’m not playing, not in the lineup, or get tossed and they miss out on that opportunity … well, some people have busy schedules or have a limited budget,” said Votto.

“I want everybody to know, if I’m their favorite player, I’m there, giving it my all for every inning possible. Yes, that made me sad,” he added. “But I’m glad our side was able to spot it and give her that ball. That doesn’t make up for missing out on that game yesterday.”

There is little doubt Votto’s stomp-and-go show will earn him a fine and a suspension, but he was in Sunday’s lineup.

“We left her tickets and I hope she gets a chance to watch the Reds win and play well for her,” he said.

That doesn’t mean Votto apologizes for his reaction but he does for some of his language.

“I was thinking about feeling regret and did I feel any shame about my emotional outburst,” he said. “The answer is probably no. Maybe a little bit with some of the language. But probably no regrets because I was true to myself.”

Votto said while his dad would have approved of his reaction, he also would have approved of the aftermath.

“He would have approved of me taking care of the girl and making certain that wrong was righted … for sure,” he said.