Joey Votto (CIN): 2-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.

Votto Zone

That’s 9 wins in a row for the tied-for-first-place Reds. Cincinnati sits at 10th in baseball in both OPS (.781) and ERA (3.44) over the last week. Statistically, the team has been just better than the middle of the pack recently, but they have gotten the job done when it mattered most. It is a team powered by young talent in every which way. Elly De La Cruz was the jolt the club needed a couple of weeks ago, and with the youngster beginning to settle in, the veteran, Joey Votto, found his way back into the lineup in a loud way on Monday night.

Votto, who had been on the IL since last August, hit sixth in his season debut on Monday. After a pair of solo shots from the Reds early, the Rockies cut that lead in half in the fourth inning. Votto responded with a solo shot of his own, extending the lead by one run. He ended up hitting three of the 10 hardest hit balls of the game. His home run left the bat at 102 mph, his lineout at 104.4, and his single at 108.7.

For what little sample there is, it looks like Votto is back and ready to contribute all he can to the surging Reds. When the Orioles’ young talent came up in 2022 and they experienced a similar awakening, they were not able to crack into the playoffs in the end. Being in the NL Central, the Reds are in a far better position than the Orioles were in being in the AL East. Sustainable or not, Cincinnati will undoubtedly be one of the most fascinating teams to watch as we enter the summer.

Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:

Henry Davis (PIT): 1-3, 2B, BB.

Less than 2 years after becoming a first overall MLB draft pick, Henry Davis picked up his first MLB hit. His double in the third inning came off of Drew Smyly and was the third hardest-hit ball of the game with a 106.2 mph exit velocity. Ultimately the next several weeks will determine if Henry is here to stay, but Monday was an ideal debut for someone who sailed through the minors so quickly.

Tommy Edman (STL): 2-2, 3B, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB.

Hitting out of the nine-hole on Monday, Tommy Edman reached base four times. With the Cardinals trailing the Nationals 5-0 in the third inning, Edman ripped an RBI triple to left-center field to begin chipping away. The three-bagger came off righty Josiah Gray and left the outfielder’s bat at 98.6 mph. He is now slashing .240/.310/.415.

Daniel Vogelbach (NYM): 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI.

With just three home runs and 15 RBI entering Monday’s game against the Astros, a big night was exactly what Daniel Vogelbach needed. His third-inning shot down the right field line off of Hunter Brown left the lefty’s bat at 105.4 mph. If the Mets find their way back into contention, it will in part be because the bats towards the bottom of the order like Vogelbach’s finally began to produce; Monday was a good start down that path.

Alek Thomas (ARI): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

In his return to the Major League club, Alek Thomas left his mark on Arizona’s 9-1 victory over Milwaukee. Thomas’ first inning home run off of less-than-sharp Corbin Burnes left his bat at 104.6 mph. The outfielder also drove a deep flyout to left field in the eighth inning against Adrian Houser. With the backend of the Diamondbacks’ lineup struggling, it will be crucial if Thomas can finally put something together at the Major League level.

Mike Yastrzemski (SF): 3-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI.

Mike Yastrzemski put an end to his team’s 10-inning ordeal with the Padres in dramatic fashion on Monday night. With two men on, the outfielder sent a 95 mph fastball long gone into McCovey Cove to walk it off. His first home run, which came in the sixth inning and inched the Giants’ closer to a comeback, was off Michael Wacha and left his bat at 97.4 mph.

Josh Jung (TEX): 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI.

Every single plate appearance resulted in a hard-hit batted ball for Josh Jung on Monday. The third baseman began his night with a 106.9 mph single in the first inning. He followed that up with a shot into the left-field seats in the third inning. He is now in the 78th percentile for average exit velocity and boasts 15 home runs and 44 RBI. If the righty keeps this up, his odds will continue to look great to win AL Rookie of the Year.

Jarren Duran (BOS): 3-3, 3 2B, 2 RBI.

Many other hitters would have only managed singles with Jarren Duran’s batted balls on Monday, but the speedy outfielder stretched all three of his into doubles. With Adam Duvall coming off of the IL and Duran amidst a cold streak, the speedster was pushed back into a part-time role, but with his batting average back up to .300, he may be forcing his way back into the lineup on a more regular basis.

Luis Arraez (MIA): 5-5, R, 2 RBI.

The Marlins tacked 11 runs on Blue Jays’ pitching on Monday, and Luis Arraez was no small part, having just another routine 5 for 5 night. The infielder now has 11 hits in his last 14 at-bats. The lefty hitter’s perfect night places him right back at .400. Despite losing Pablo López, the acquisition of Arraez seems to be working perfectly for Miami, as the team now stands 11 games above .500 and in the first NL wild card spot.

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)