TORONTO -- Joey Votto's first game in Toronto since 2009 was met with more than friends and family on Monday as the Reds' first baseman was awarded his sixth Tip O'Neill Award in seven years from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
This award is presented each year to a Canadian baseball player who has excelled individually and as a teammate while adhering to baseball's highest ideals. Votto accepted the award prior to the game and caught the ceremonial first pitch from his former senior team baseball coach, Steve Breitner.
While Canada has begun to produce enticing MLB prospects at a higher rate in recent years, Votto was a rarity coming out of Etobicoke, Ontario, just outside of Toronto, back in 2002.