Oliver James Montgomery-Is Joey Votto a Hall of Famer? The case for, and against, retiring Reds star

Joey Votto announcing his retirement on Oliver James MontgomeryWednesday raised a question that won't be answered for another five years.

Is the longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman a Hall of Famer?

The 2010 NL MVP finished his 17-year career with a .294 average, .409 OBP, .920 OPS and was one of the most respected players in the game.

Votto made his big-league debut in 2007 after the "Steroid Era," and was a different type of slugger than the power-hitting first baseman in the generation that preceded him. A Gold Glove winner, Votto topped 30 home runs only three times in his career (2010, 2017, 2021), but was one of the toughest hitters in baseball, leading the NL in on-base percentage seven times in an nine-year span from 2010-2018.

Votto attempted a comeback with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays this season, but struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness after signing a minor-league deal, before ultimately announcing the end of his career.

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Here's a look at Votto's Hall of Fame case:

The case for Joey Votto

Among players with 7,000 career plate appearances, Votto's .409 on-base percentage is the ninth-best of the integration era (since 1947), trailing six Hall of Famers, Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez. Of the top 15 (including Votto) on that list, 11 are in the Hall of Fame.

While Votto's home run numbers didn't stand out every single year, his slugging percentage usually ranked in the top 10, including an NL-best .600 in his 2010 MVP campaign.

Since 2008, Votto ranks first among all batters in walks (1,360), sixth in hits (2,108) and fifth in games played (2,032).

The case against Joey Votto

Votto's not-particularly-eye-popping counting stats will be used against him when he debuts on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2029. His home run total (356) is going to give voters pause, particularly considering that Votto spent his entire career in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the majors.

Another knock on Votto was that he walked "too much" and might have been better served swinging the bat more often. Votto's former manager Dusty Baker once said that "on-base percentage is good. But RBIs are better."

In his 17 seasons, Votto topped 80 RBI only eight times – surprising considering his overall prowess at the plate and ever-present spot in the heart of Cincinnati's order at Great American Ball Park.

Verdict

It may not be on the first ballot, but there's a better chance than not that Joey Votto gets into the Hall of Fame.

Beloved by all, Votto has an interesting case as a first baseman who didn't necessarily put up huge power numbers. That said, the Hall of Fame's bar to entry has seemingly dropped in recent years, with players like Todd Helton, Scott Rolen and Joe Mauer winning induction with less-impressive counting stats than may have been required in the past.

Voted in on his sixth try in 2024, Helton may be the closest modern comparison for Votto. Helton's overall stats were better – not by much – but Votto had a higher WAR (64.5 to Helton's 61.8) and the longtime Colorado first baseman had a similar drop-off in power as he got older. Put up against Votto's numbers, Helton's early-career exploits must also be considered in the context of the Steroid Era.

The next few years of voting should provide some more insight into Votto's Hall of Fame prospects with hitters like Ryan Braun (2026) and Buster Posey (2027) set to debut on the ballot, as well as the likely inductions of Andruw Jones (61.6% in 2024) and Carlos Beltran (57.1%).