National League Disappointments: Joey Votto Had an April to Forget
Sportsgrid-Staff
More than a month into the season there has been a fair share of slow starts in the National League. We take a look at some of the biggest early-season busts.
Joey Votto / First Base (Reds)
The Reds themselves certainly are baseball’s biggest disappointment, and for Joey Votto, this early season has been one to forget. The potential future hall of fame has yet to launch a home run and is hitting just .122 to start the season.
COVID issues have also derailed his start, but certainly, this is the toughest opening to a season for Votto in his storied career. This is coming off a 36 home run campaign in 2021, so there is hope that he can get it going eventually.
Paul DeJong / Shortstop (Cardinals)
Paul DeJong has had some nice seasons in St. Louis, but the start of his 2022 campaign has been abysmal. The 28-year-old is hitting just .130 with one home run and is quickly losing playing time in the process.
Last season DeJong hit just .197, and there were questions about what this year would look like. We’re finding out that 2021 was no mirage.
Brendan Rodgers / Shortstop (Rockies)
Colorado is off to a solid start this season, which makes it all the more surprising that Brendan Rodgers has basically had nothing to do with it. The former first-round pick finished 2021 on a high, and 2022 has looked nothing like it. Rodgers has a .221 On-Base Percentage to go with just one home run with half of his games at Coors Field.
Once a top prospect, the shine is quickly wearing off on the middle infielder. Rodgers will have to get it going in May, or he could find himself stuck on the bench.
Charlie Morton / Pitcher (Braves)
One of the great stories in baseball on the mound the past few years, Charlie Morton, has not gotten off to a flying start. His 5.65 ERA and 17 free passes in 28 innings isn’t something we’ve been used to seeing with the former Astro.
Charlie is 38 years old, so naturally, questions will be asked about his age and whether or not this is the end of the line for him. That being said, Morton had a very encouraging start on May 8th when he threw five shutout innings. Perhaps this is the beginning of a turnaround for the veteran righty.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.