PHOENIX -- If you notice Jonathan Villar choking up on his bat during a Cactus League game in the coming weeks, he may be trying to channel a little bit of Reds great Joey Votto.
During the final month of his maddening 2017 season, Villar and Brewers first-base coach Carlos Subero spent time dissecting video of Votto's famously selective plate appearances, which often feature Votto choking up to flick tough two-strike pitches foul until he can find one to hit. For the free-swinging Villar, there were some lessons there, and he took copies of video with him to the Dominican Republic for winter ball.