Votto speaks out

Joey Votto makes his return tonight. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Joey Votto finally opened up about why he has missed substantial playing time over the last few weeks. He met with the media today in Toronto for the first time since going on the DL. Votto was also reinstated today.

The death of his father last August was the main reason for Votto's problems. Votto stated that from the end of last season through the beginning of spring training that he dealt with depression, anxiety, grief and other emotions.

When spring training started, Votto said he put his feelings to the side in order to focus on baseball. It was only when he became sick and missed games in May that the feelings he had pushed away all came back and hit him...hard.

Votto admits that his depression became so much that he had to go to the hospital twice -- once in San Diego and again in Cincinnati when the team was on a road trip.

“It was a very, very scary and crazy night," he said. I had to call 911 at 3 or 4 in the morning. It was probably the scariest moment I ever dealt with in my life. I went to the hospital that night."

According to Votto, everything was just too much to take and he could no longer do his job. He has been seeing doctors in an effort to more effectively deal with his condition.

Votto will be in the Reds starting lineup tonight in his hometown of Toronto to face the Blue Jays.

I think I speak for all Reds fans when I say, "welcome back, Joey."