The scorching-hot Votto swings a Louisville Slugger M356 and wears Franklin CFX Pro batting gloves.
If in some alternate universe, the MLB decided today (6.25.12) to start all over and hold a league-wide draft where all players were available, the Canadian-born, 28 year-old Joey Votto might garner some interest as the number one pick. Already an MVP and a Gold Glove first basemen, Votto is currently leading the league in the following categories: doubles, walks, OBP, Slugging %, total bases, and intentional BBs. Votto is as complete a hitter as there is in the league, and his swing is just about flawless. Not only will he compete for batting titles for years to come, but also home run and RBI titles. He’s one of the very few legitimate Triple Crown threats in the Bigs today.
Joey Votto’s bat is a 34-inch/32 oz. Louisville Slugger M356. On a side note—I was watching the game today and obviously paying close attention to Votto’s hands to be sure of his gloves, but I did realize something non-equipment related but was still a good lesson for amateur players: Votto was choked up about an inch-and-a-half versus Yovani Gallardo. This is a guy who Votto has hit extremely well in his career. It just goes to show you that even the best power hitters in the world value bat-control.
Votto wears Franklin batting gloves. He has worn the Natural II style for almost the entire season, but just today we noticed him wearing the Neo Classic II (see below).
Votto’s Neo Classic II batting gloves from tonight (6.25.12). (MLB.tv)
The ones he had on tonight are slightly different than the ones we see for sale online, but very very similar.
Votto’s cleats are an exclusive version of the Nike Shox Fuse 2 cleats you see above. Here’s a decent look:
See the red Nike Shox Fuse 2 exclusives (sans the “Shox” under the heel).
Votto’s cleats which do not actually have the Shox feature under the heel but are the Fuse style, are unavailable. Other versions of Shox Fuse 2’s aren’t very plentiful either, though they can be found scarcely on the internet.
And here’s how Joey Votto earned his own exclusive cleats:
Here are the links:
Franklin Neo Classic II Batting Gloves (which he wore today)
Franklin Natural II Batting Gloves (which he’s worn for the majority of the season)
Nike Shox Fuse 2 (not much out there and not in Votto’s colorway)
