Votto returns to Reds' first base

TORONTO 
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto grew so "totally overwhelmed" with grief and anxiety about the death of his father that he needed time off from baseball to recover.

The slugging first baseman made the revelation Tuesday, hours after he was activated off the disabled list and put in the starting lineup for a game against the Blue Jays in his hometown of Toronto.

Votto went on the DL May 30 with stress-related issues after missing games earlier this season with an inner-ear problem.

What fans, media and even teammates did not know was that Votto had been battling anxiety attacks brought on by lingering grief over his father's death last August. Joseph Votto was 52. "He was the first one to teach me howto play baseball," Joey Votto said. "I played catch with him on a daily basis when I was real young. He was a big fan, he was just in love with what I did and me. He was a great father to me."

Votto did not disclose details of his father's death.

A pivotal player for the Reds, Votto is batting .357 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs this season. Since he went on the disabled list, the Reds have gone 8-13 and seen their scoring fall by more than one run per game.

"We've missed him big time," said Reds manager Dusty Baker, who hadn't expected Votto to return before a series at Cleveland that begins Thursday.

Votto was initially able to deal with his grief after his father died