Amazing stat explains just how good this Reds player is at the plate

Votto has rarely popped up in the infield throughout his career

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto pointed to his ability to hit the ball hard and where he wants to on a consistent basis as his greatest strength last week.

“If I want to hit fly balls all the time, I can,” Votto said. “If I want to hit line drives all the time, I can.”

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The numbers prove that. According to FanGraphs.com, Votto has popped out on the infield only 16 times in his career and not at all in 2018. Jeremy Frank, of NGBaseball.com, brought this stat to everyone's attention this week on Twitter.

Votto has popped out in the infield only seven times since 2010, and according to Frank, the average player with the same number of plate appearances (5,341) would have popped up in the infield 127 times.

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Votto and the Reds return to action Friday in their first game after the All-Star break, playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Votto leads the National League with a .422 on-base percentage. He’s hitting .289 with nine home runs and 55 RBIs.

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