July 19, 2024
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Joey Votto (ankle) has been reinstated from the seven-day minor-league injured list and will return to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday for the start of the second half of the season. Votto was rehabbing a serious ankle injury that he suffered in spring training in the first half of the season and went 8-for-43 with a home run in 53 plate appearances on his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and with Single-A Dunedin in 16 games. The 40-year-old is finally ready to take on a higher level of minor-league competition as he hopes to return to the big leagues for the first time in 2024 in the second half. The six-time All-Star should make his Jays debut before season's end, but it's likely to come with little playing time as a veteran left-handed bench bat.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Buffalo Bisons
June 24, 2024
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Joey Votto (back, ankle) experienced some lower-back tightness but should return to the Florida Complex League for minor-league rehab games later this week. Votto was with Single-A Dunedin but will now return to the Rookie level. The 40-year-old hasn't played all year in the big leagues after suffering a pretty serious ankle sprain in spring training. His rehab process will be slow, and he'll need to work his way back up the minor-league ladder during his rehab before he'll be a realistic option to join the big-league roster as a left-handed bat off the bench. The six-time All-Star and former National League MVP is at the tail end of his career and is no guarantee to be a fantasy contributor in the second half of the 2024 season if he's healthy by then.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Kaitlyn McGrath
June 17, 2024
First baseman
Joey Votto (ankle) was transferred to the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League to begin a rehab assignment, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Votto has been out with a right ankle sprain since March 17, when the 40-year-old rolled his ankle in the dugout in spring training. However, it appears the former MVP is now fully healthy following that injury. After he gets enough games under his belt on his rehab assignment, the Blue Jays could decide to activate the veteran to the active roster. However, he isn't worth a stash in fantasy. Votto hit just .202 last year with 14 home runs and 38 RBI across 65 games in 2023.
--Joey Pollizze - RotoBallerSource: Keegan Matheson
June 12, 2024
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that first baseman
Joey Votto (ankle) has recently made "the most progress in quite some time." "He's actually getting pretty close to playing in games," Schneider said. Votto injured his right ankle in spring training in mid-March and hasn't made his 2024 debut for the Blue Jays. However, he could be sent out on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment soon, which would put the 40-year-old left-handed swinger on track to be an option for Toronto in the second half of the season. In what will likely be his final season as a professional, Votto will be a veteran bench bat for the Blue Jays if he's called up to Toronto at any point this season. He's had trouble staying on the field in recent years, but the six-time All-Star did hit 14 home runs in 65 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
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