Longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto took his first batting practice with the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, but the 40-year-old former NL MVP was mistaken for another MLB star by a much younger teammate.
A 23-year-old minor leaguer, Eric Pardinho, struck out Votto, and the Brazilian pitcher excitedly mentioned a totally different player.
“I just struck out Joey Gallo!” Pardinho said, per Jayson Stark of The Athletic.
Close, but not quite.
Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK
Gallo, the former Texas Rangers standout who subsequently flopped with the New York Yankees, is now a member of the Washington Nationals. He’s also 10 years younger than Votto.
Votto, one of the greatest Canadian players in MLB history, signed with the Blue Jays on Friday as a non-roster invitee as he tries to make the team’s roster for his 18th big league season. The six-time All-Star repeatedly stated this offseason that he’s not ready to retire, and now the Toronto-born standout gets an opportunity with his hometown team.
