Joey Votto carved out an amazing 17-year MLB career, spending all of it with the Cincinnati Reds. From his debut in 2007 to his final season in 2023, he had six All-Star appearances, one Gold Glove and was the 2010 National League MVP.
While putting together a stat sheet worthy of National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration, Votto was a force at the plate. He totalled 2,135 hits, 356 home runs and 1,365 walks. He ended with a career slash line of .294/.409/.511 with a .920 OPS.
Earning a reputation as one of MLB's most consistent hitters, Votto is well aware of what it takes to succeed. He believes that Athleticsfirst baseman Nick Kurtz is showing signs of being the most dangerous hitter in baseball.
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Since retiring from MLB, Votto hasn't shied away from sharing his opinions. During a Tuesday appearance on "MLB Now," the former Red praised the young Kurtz, who is in his second season with the Athletics.
“I see a guy who has a chance to be the best hitter in the game,” Votto said. “I see a guy who has a chance to be one of those special hitters during a generation, and I’ll answer the question why. Took the most important tools for a hitter. Patience, being able to stay inside of a zone, bat speed, the way the bat comes through the zone, being able to hit both right and left-handed pitching, and Nick has absolutely every little bit of that.”
After being named the American League Rookie of the Year last year, the lefty has stayed hot. Kurtz has accumulated 59 runs scored, 85 hits, 19 home runs and 64 RBIs in 305 at-bats this season. He is also slashing .279/.423/.521 with a .944 OPS.
What makes his numbers even more impressive is that he is on track for a bit of a down year after having a 1.002 OPS in 420 at-bats in 2025. Since making his debut, the 23-year-old has established himself as an elite hitter
If Kurtz can continue this level of production, then Votto may not be the only one believing he's on track as one of MLB's top stars.
