Joey Votto slugging his way into Canadian history

This season has been one of the best for Joey Votto and it won’t be long until he sets a new milestone for Canadian baseball.

Joey Votto is on pace for a career high 48 home runs, which would be the second most by any Canadian in a single season – Larry Walker in 1997 hit 49.

If the Etobicoke native keeps up at this pace he would pass Matt Stairs for second on the all-time list.

After he climbs past Stairs, the 33 year old Votto will only trail Walker (383).

LARRY WALKER

Will Votto be able to pass Canada’s greatest hitter?

If he stayed on this pace he would end up with 269 home runs and will be 34 years old by season’s end.

That would mean he would have to hit 115 to pass Walker.

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The lifetime Red has six guaranteed years left on his contract, meaning he would need around 19 home runs per season to take over first. But he would be 40 when that deal expires.

Walker had 271 homers by the time he was 34 – Votto is projected to be at 269. The long time Rockies slugger and 1997 NL MVP managed 112 more in his career, retiring at 38.

Votto has historically not been a huge home run hitter, his career high was 37 which he hit back in 2010 and other than that he’s never hit over 30.

Over the last five years, including an injury riddled 2014, the former MVP is averaging 22.6 long balls a season. If he retired at 38 that would leave him one short of Walker’s all time mark (382).

IS VOTTO THE GREATEST CANADIAN HITTER?

It’s hard to predict how any player’s career will unfold, especially one that’s on the back end of his career like Votto.

But what Votto has accomplished in his first 11 seasons would certainly suggests he’ll challenge Walker for all time greatest.

In 17 season’s Walker was a five time all star, won the MVP once (1997), won seven Gold Gloves, and three Silver Sluggers.

In 11 years Votto has been picked for five all star games, has won one MVP (2010), one Gold Glove, and no Silver Sluggers.

Walker had a slash line of .313/.400/.502, with 1,311 RBI, and 230 stolen bases – Votto has a .313/.425/.542. with 797, and 70 so far.

It’s interesting that at 33, the Reds star is having a career season, in terms of power. The League is clearly going through a power surge this season and Votto is too – leading the NL in home runs heading into the break (tied with Giancarlo Stanton).

Walker again fell short of he Hall of Fame vote this winter, with only 21.9% of the vote.  He will have three more attempts to get to the 75% needed to be inducted. There has never been a Canadian hitter inducted into Cooperstown.

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If Votto keeps going at this pace he seems destined for the Hall and would win the title as greatest Canadian hitter of all time.