Former Dragon Votto Awaits MVP Announcement

DAYTON, OH -The Dayton Dragons were five years away from their first game as a franchise when Barry Larkin captured the last National League Most Valuable Player Award by a Cincinnati Reds player in 1995. Larkin's accomplishment was the first for the Reds since George Foster earned NL MVP honors in 1977, six years before Joey Votto was born. Now, Votto has a chance to earn the top award ever achieved by any player who has worn a Dragons uniform at Fifth Third Field and just the second MVP honor in the last 33 years for the Reds.

The National League Most Valuable Player Award will be announced at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Monday, November 22nd and many observers feel that Votto is the favorite.

Until now, no former Dragons player has ever finished in the top 20 in the MVP voting. Votto finished 22nd in 2009. Adam Dunn finished 26th in 2005 and 28th in 2004.

Votto did more than just pass through Dayton on his way to the Major Leagues. He played in 173 games for the Dragons, logging 593 at-bats and belting 16 home runs while driving in 95 runs over parts of three seasons including a brief rehabilitation assignment in 2009. He played in 60 games with the Dragons as a young 19-year-old in 2003 and then returned in 2004 when he batted .302 with 14 homers and 72 RBI in 111 games.

John Fay, the Reds beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, wrote in Sunday's Reds Insider column that he expected Votto's name to be at the top of the list when votes are tabulated.

"If I were a betting man I'd put a crisp $50 on Votto winning the MVP," wrote Fay. "I haven't talked to any writers who said they didn't vote for Votto.

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel broke down the race between Votto, St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, and Colorado leftfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

"This vote goes to Votto for what he did in helping the Reds end their 14-year playoff drought," said Haudricourt.

Respected ESPN writer Jayson Stark offered an opinion on all the MLB post-season awards. His pick for NL MVP? Votto.

"This is Joey Votto's year," says Stark. "He's in the top three in his league in just about every offensive statistic I care about."

For the record, Votto led the National League in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage, two of the most comprehensive measures of overall offensive production. He was second in the NL in batting average at .324 while belting 37 home runs (third most in the league) and driving in 113 runs (also third in the league). He also scored 106 runs to tie for fourth.

But the key element of Votto's candidacy that may lift him ahead of the other two primary contenders is this: Of the three, only Votto played for a team that reached the post-season.

In support of the consideration for Joey Votto as N.L. MVP, the Dragons will award one winner with a prize pack. Just email us your favorite Joey Votto memory, either with the Dragons or Reds, and you will be eligible to win. Send it to: [email protected]. One winner will receive a prize pack including a Joey Votto figurine, 2010 Reds Media Guide, Dragons cap, Dragons baseball autographed by each member of the 2010 Dragons team, and more.

Since 1997, only one National League MVP has played in the 16-team Midwest League (Pujols in Peoria). There have been three American League MVP winners who played in the Midwest League over the same period including Joe Maurer and Justin Morneau (both Quad Cities) and Alex Rodriguez (Wisconsin). If Votto wins the voting, he will join exclusive company. Dragons fans who saw him play in Dayton can say the same.

The Dragons will open their 12th season in the Midwest League on April 7, 2011 against the Bowling Green Hod Rods at Fifth Third Field.

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