Is that ... Joey Votto? Bearded Red blends in among fans
CINCINNATI -- As his teammates were playing on the field against the Red Sox on Wednesday, injured Reds first baseman Joey Votto was a man of the people at Great American Ball Park.
During the first three innings, Votto made his way around the seating area and concourses at the stadium. Wearing a classic Reds No. 11 jersey of Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, Votto started in the upper deck behind home plate sitting with a fan and chatting in the first inning.
Soon, Votto was making his way along the upper deck aisle -- stopping repeatedly for numerous selfie photos, talking to kids and shaking hands with fans.
Eventually, Votto popped up around other spots inside the seating bowl.
From the lower right-field seats, Votto shouted down to Reds right fielder Aristides Aquino, who waved back. In the seats above the bullpen in center field, he said ¡°hi¡± to Reds relievers.
Votto¡¯s tour of GABP concluded back inside the Reds television booth with Larkin and play-by-play broadcaster John Sadak. Since he underwent season-ending left shoulder surgery on Aug. 19, Votto has been working select home games as a TV analyst for Bally Sports Ohio.
Before the game, Votto was wearing a jersey of a different Hall of Fame player from a different team. During a pregame ceremony to honor his being the Reds¡¯ recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award for community service, the 39-year-old donned a No. 21 Clemente Pirates jersey as he accepted honors from manager David Bell and general manager Nick Krall.