Is Joey Votto in Cincinnati? Free agent appears to be at local Whole Foods in new post
Joey Votto is looking for a new MLB team. But why does he still appear to be in the Queen City?
The free-agent first baseman, who has played his entire MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, posted a video Tuesday in which he abandoned a shopping cart outside a grocery store. Votto stated in a video last week that if a team doesn't sign him, he would stop putting his shopping carts away.
Tuesday's video was initially posted to Votto's Instagram Story and has since expired. But a social media user shared it to TikTok. The 40-year-old is seen pushing a grocery cart and intentionally missing a cart corral, while saying, "It's not a good day today. Ugly, ugly, ugly day. Anyways, alright. See ya."
The store Votto appeared to be shopping at was the Whole Foods on East Galbraith Road in Kenwood. His bags looked similar to Whole Foods shopping bags, and he showed an adjacent Macy's in his video. (Kenwood Towne Centre's Macy's store is adjacent to a Whole Foods.)
Votto's video also showed he was struggling through rainy weather. And in case you forgot, it was a rainy day in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
A social media user then confronted Votto about his parking lot escapades on X/Twitter, "Can you put that shopping cart back as well please? I have enough trouble sleeping already."
To which Votto replied, "It’s in KY already."
If he really is in Cincinnati, the question is why? Teams are at spring training right now, so why isn't he in Arizona or Florida trying to find his next deal? Or could the prodigal son be returning home?
Reds team president Nick Krall said he is leaving the door open for Votto to stay in the organization, perhaps as a coach or mentor.
Is the six-time All-Star preparing for that role?
Who knows? And it's still undetermined if Votto is actually in Cincinnati. But it's clear the veteran is missing the game.
Votto posted a picture on X and Instagram Tuesday that showed him sitting on a park bench looking dejected while eating a sandwich with a cup at his feet. A baseball bat was also leaning against the bench. The caption read, "missing ball."
Votto made his league debut with the Reds in 2007. He has a career batting average of .294 to go with 356 home runs and 2,135 hits.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joey Votto's new Instagram video appears to be in ... Cincinnati
