The Cincinnati Reds’ Zack Cozart is going to his first All-Star Game after being voted in by fans as the starting shortstop.
Like many players, Cozart also gets a bonus for be the All-Star selection. Only, this bonus isn’t in his contract. And, this bonus isn’t money.
It’s a donkey!
Reds first baseman Joey Votto — a 2017 NL All-Star selection himself — promised Cozart a donkey if he made the All-Star Game.
If #Reds Zack Cozart makes the All Star team, Joey Votto owes him a donkey. Yes, you read that right. pic.twitter.com/TFccfckIHS
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 6, 2017
Cozart, 31, went into more detail on ESPN about the donkey promise after being selected to the All-Star Game:
Cozart said he takes his son to a facility near the Reds’ spring training complex, and they feed the donkeys.
Cozart said on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight that when Votto made the donkey pledge to him, “it started off as just ha, ha, ha … but it got real really quick.”
He said that he expects Votto to fulfill his promise and now has to search for some land for the donkey to roam.
“Oh yeah, anybody that knows Joey Votto knows that donkey is going to be here,” he said. “This is happening — a legit, real donkey. No name picked out, but that will be the next order of business, that’s for sure.”
And Votto indeed plans to fulfill his promise. The superstar first baseman told Cincinnati.Com that the donkey plan has been taken care of:
Now it’s time to pony (or donkey) up, and Votto said he’s already been in touch with his dealer.
“He doesn’t have a phone. He only uses a pager,” Votto said. “He’s kind of in that black market business. He’ll see it’s time to bring that donkey to Cincinnati.”
“The donkey’s been in the works for a while,” Votto said. “We’ve got one taken care of.”
As C. Trent Rosecrans said, it would be great if the donkey made its first appearance in Miami for the All-Star Game:
Maybe Joey Votto can deliver Zack Cozart's donkey to him in person in Miami, 'cause he's an All-Star too
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) July 2, 2017
