Joey Votto made a memorable debut with the Toronto Blue Jays by hitting a 392-foot home run on the first pitch he faced in his hometown. The veteran first baseman connected off Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies during a spring training game in Clearwater, Florida. Initially, there was some uncertainty about the ball clearing the fence, but umpires confirmed it as a homer after a brief pause by Votto at second base.
Votto's move to Toronto came after agreeing to a minor league deal with the Blue Jays following a 17-season tenure with the Cincinnati Reds. The 40-year-old, a six-time All-Star and the 2010 NL MVP, has an impressive career record with a .294 batting average, 356 home runs, and 1,144 RBIs.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees received mixed injury news. X-rays on DJ LeMahieu's foot came back negative, but he remains day-to-day after a recent injury. Ace pitcher Gerrit Cole is sidelined for three to four weeks due to elbow issues, and Aaron Judge is nursing an abdomen injury.
Owner Steve Cohen of the New York Mets hinted that a long-term contract for first baseman Pete Alonso before the season's end is unlikely. Alonso, a former NL Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star, has a one-year deal and could become a free agent after the World Series.
In other news, Miles Mikolas will start as the opening-day pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, and Josiah Gray will take the mound for the Washington Nationals in their season opener against Cincinnati.
Lastly, San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. showcased his defensive skills with a Gold Glove-worthy catch in an exhibition game against Team Korea, adding to his accolades after winning his first Gold Glove last season.
