Joey Votto spent 17 seasons making pitchers miserable. The former Cincinnati Reds first baseman retired with a .409 on-base percentage, 356 home runs, and a reputation as one of the most disciplined hitters baseball has ever seen. So when Votto says a young player reminds him of himself, people tend to listen.
During an appearance on MLB Network, Votto pointed to Boston Red Sox outfield prospect Roman Anthony as the current player whose swing most closely mirrors his own. They talked mechanics, body type, approach. Votto was specific.
“Roman Anthony and I have very similar swings. Both of us, not big, super strong guys. Tall, but not really, really tall. Bat speed plays, and he has plenty of it. Certainly pound for pound, he has plenty of it. He seems to handle left-handed pitching well. He can hit the ball the other way well,” Votto said.
The comparison makes sense on paper. Votto is listed at 6’2″, 220 pounds. Anthony is 6’3″, 200 pounds. Both are lean, lanky frames with room to add strength. The difference is position — Votto played first base, Anthony plays outfield — and experience level. Anthony is 22 years old. At that same age, Votto was still in the minor leagues.
The numbers don’t match yet, but the look does
Anthony hasn’t produced the kind of slugging numbers Votto put up over his career. Anthony’s big-league slugging percentage sits at .421, and he’s been going through what you’d call a sophomore slump. The power hasn’t fully arrived yet. But the eye test is what caught Votto’s attention.
The swings look eerily similar. Same quiet setup. Same controlled aggression. Same willingness to use the whole field. Votto built a Hall of Fame career on being a tough out, and Anthony, even in a down stretch, shows that same two-strike approach and plate coverage.
There’s also the fact that Anthony is handling left-handed pitching well already, which is not something every young hitter figures out quickly. Votto noticed that too.
What this means for the Red Sox
Boston has been waiting for Anthony to take the next step. He came up as one of the top prospects in baseball, and the expectations have been high. A comparison from a hitter like Votto doesn’t change the stat sheet overnight, but it does validate the underlying skills that scouts and analysts have pointed to for years.
Anthony is still only 22. He has time. Votto didn’t become Votto overnight either. If the swing really is that similar, and if Anthony can develop even half the plate discipline Votto had, the Red Sox might have something special on their hands.
For now, Anthony just needs to keep swinging. Votto already believes he’s on the right track.
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