Reds slugger Joey Votto won’t play for Canada in World Baseball Classic

Joey Votto will concentrate on preparing for the Cincinnati Reds season this winter and spring instead of compete for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

“There were some aspects of my performance in 2016 that I have decided were lacking,” Votto said in a statement released by the team. “I would like to use 2017 spring training for preparation.”

The 33-year-old is coming off arguably his best season at the plate since 2012.

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Despite a miserable start to the season, Votto led the National League in on-base percentage (.434) for the fifth time and posted his highest batting average (.326, third in the NL) and slugging percentage (.550, sixth) of the past four seasons.

However, he struggled in the field, an area he has worked hard since breaking into the majors in 2007.

The Ontario suited up for Canada in the 2009 and 2013 WBCs, and he was named the country’s top athlete in 2010.

In December, he won the Tip O'Neill Award as the top baseball player from Canada for the second straight time and the sixth overall.

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