Joey Votto Will Receive the Lou Marsh Award Before Toronto Game

Joey Votto won the Lou Marsh Award, which goes to the athlete of the year in Canada.

The award itself will be presented to Votto before the game Saturday against his hometown, Toronto Blue Jays.

"It's a great honor," Votto said.  "The list of guys who won the award includes an Olympic Gold Medalist, Wayne Gretzky, Ferguson Jenkins.  It's like the Sports Illustrated Athlete of the year for Canada."

Votto is not one to promote himself.  He likes to remain private.  There are times that he can do that in Cincinnati but doesn't count on it.

"This is a smaller city but it's a baseball city," Votto said.  "I don't have a big problem (going unnoticed) but if you think your are going out to dinner and won't be recognized, you're fooling yourself."

Dusty Baker was asked about his young star.

"Votto is very recognizable but you hardly see him.  He's very polite to the people that do recognize him.  Canada should be proud.  He is outwardly humble but inwardly confident.  He is not austentacious, although his Lamborghini ain't exactly a Volkswagon," Baker said.