Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto’s 2022 season is over as he announced Wednesday that he will undergo surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder this Friday. Votto made the announcement after the Reds’ win over the Philadelphia Phillies, in which he did not play.
Joey Votto announces that he will undergo season-ending surgery on Friday to repair a torn rotator cuff. pic.twitter.com/OVirCZaB7L
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) August 17, 2022
“I don’t know what more there is to say other than Friday I’m going to have surgery for my shoulder. I have a rotator cuff tear, “said Votto. “I don’t know how to explain it … like what exactly happened, but it’s been lingering for a while, and I’ve had a difficult time with it,” the 38-year-old told reporters.
Votto went on to explain that the injury stems from all the way back in 2015.
“I’ve been able to play through it (since 2015),” he explained. “Only the past maybe three, four months or so has it been painful to the point where it’s … without getting into specifics, difficult to lift, hurts to sleep.”
Per the Reds veteran, recovery will take around six months and he is aiming to return for 2023 spring training.
Votto is in his 16th season in the big leagues and 2022 has statistically been one of his worst, presumably in part because of the injury. He has hit a career-low .250/.319/.370 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 91 games and he only has five homers since July 1.
The longtime Red slugger’s contract runs through next season, where he will be due $25 million, with a $20 million club option for 2024. It’s hard to imagine the team would pick that up at this point, so many are looking at next season as what will likely be his last in Cincinnati, depending on how surgery recovery goes.
No matter what happens next… I have one important PSA:@JoeyVotto is a Hall of Famer.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) August 17, 2022
Damn, that would certainly explain the slump.https://t.co/o9nDMa3dUk
— Red Reporter (@redreporter) August 17, 2022
Joey….this isn't good. Get fixed up and we look forward to 2023 https://t.co/8jnm5ULWnw
— Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 🇨🇦⚾️ (@CDNBaseballHOF) August 17, 2022
Well that is not good at all. https://t.co/mbCbxwjd2y
— Doug Gray (@dougdirt24) August 17, 2022
Sad doesn’t explain my feelings on this https://t.co/upfnpY19iZ
— Ashley Smith (@AshleyWxFox19) August 17, 2022
Dang. "It's been lingering for a while and I've had a difficult time with it." https://t.co/NlA0Jv5oU4
— Ryan Boyer (@RyanPBoyer) August 17, 2022
