Joey Votto’s path back to the majors took a step forward Monday in his seventh rehab appearance.
The 40-year-old was back in the lineup for single-A Dunedin’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies’ affiliate and picked up his first regular-season hit as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Votto went 1-for-3 with a single, walk, strikeout, RBI and stolen base in a 9-4 Dunedin win.
He recorded a 79.6 m.p.h. single to centre in the top of the fifth, driving in designated hitter Victor Arias before stealing second. Votto went on to walk in the sixth before being replaced defensively in the bottom of the seventh.
Votto had not stolen a base in a professional game since 2021.
The Blue Jays’ 2023 first-round pick Arjun Nimmala also had an excellent game for Dunedin, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Votto, the 2010 NL MVP, is working back from a sprained ankle he suffered during spring training, which has kept him off the field for three months. He has also been dealing with some back tightness that has limited his full return to the field.
A Toronto native, Votto is now 1-for-15 with three walks during his rehab stint.