How Joey Votto's return to IL impacts final chapter of iconic Cincinnati Reds career

PHOENIX — Has Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto played his last game?

The former MVP and six-time All-Star wouldn’t engage that discussion when addressing Thursday’s  move to the 10-day injured list for what manager David Bell called a strain of his surgically repaired left shoulder.

But Votto and the team had no timeline for a possible return as he prepared — with 34 games left in the season — for a strengthening program he hopes will allow him to return to the lineup in time to help the Reds reach the playoffs.

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He turns 40 on Sept. 10 and is in the final guaranteed year of the biggest contract in franchise history. The club has a $20 million contract option for 2024 ($7 million buyout) to consider after the season.

How his shoulder responds in the coming weeks could go a long way toward writing the final chapter of his career, never mind the length of the chapter.

“I can’t speak for that, for the future as far as my career,” said Votto, who returned June 19 after 10 months of recovery and rehab for shoulder and biceps surgery. “I’m just thinking about getting better so I can be strong and healthy on a consistent basis in a game that demands that you’re strong and healthy on a consistent basis.

“As far as thinking about career stuff, I’m just looking forward to getting back in the box and feeling great and performing well and helping the team move towards our collective goal.”

Beyond saying he hadn’t gotten an MRI during the process that landed him on the IL, Votto was short on specifics about the pain and strength levels or even how long the issue has been building to the point it reached Wednesday when he and manager David Bell determined he would exit a game for a pinch-hitter.

“You could see it getting weaker,” general manager Nick Krall said. “And he came in (Wednesday) and told our guys. It seemed obvious.

“Hopefully, it’s a 10-day thing, and you push it out of the way. But we’ll see what happens.”

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Votto hit 13 homers in his first 39 games, but since his last home run on Aug. 7, he has just one extra-base hit and a 28.6-percent strikeout rate.

“I’ll say it doesn’t feel 100 percent,” Votto said, “and that time off will work towards improving range of motion and strength and feeling better.”

As for whether he’s been 100 percent at any point since his return — “Like fully healthy?” he said.

Yes.

“Relative to before the surgery?”

Yes.

“I feel like I’m not quite at the place physically I’d like to be, and it’s seeping into my swing,” he said.

Votto said “of course” he believes he can return to play again this season.

“It’s all depending on how he feels. He has to strengthen himself,” Krall said.

“He’s obviously a huge part of our team,” Bell said. “It’s disappointing, a setback, but there’s still time in the season where he can strengthen it and get back and continue being a big part of our team.

“Over the last few days, it had come up more and more,” Bell added. “It just got to a point where he felt it was bothering him to the point of he wasn’t able to help the team. That’s a very difficult thing for Joey to get to that point.

“It had gotten to a point where he couldn’t do it anymore.”

Votto, whose Hall of Fame credentials include a .410 on-base percentage, .922 OPS and 355 home runs, has hit .200 overall since his return in June with a .761 OPS.

The only three eligible players not in the Hall of Fame with at least 15 years and an OBP as high are Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez and Todd Helton.

The Reds also are driving for what would be the first full-season playoff berth in a decade.

“Frankly, it sucks,” Krall said, “for him, the club, everybody. He wants to be a part of this just as much as we want him to be a part of it. He’s a good veteran leader on this club. You also want him to be healthy.

“Our goal is to get him healthy and continue this run.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto said he believes he'll play again in 2023