Who is this Joey Votto?

Joey Votto was 19 and getting eaten up.

The year was 2003 and Votto was paying his dues down in Single-A Dayton and hit .231 in 195 at-bats, striking out 64 times.

So, he worked to shorten his swing and the more compact Votto raised his average to .301 the next year and as a bonus, found a power stroke.

Four seasons later, Votto finds himself on the outside of Dusty Baker's doghouse, looking in, having recently won the first base job from journeyman Scott Hatteberg.

For those of you who don't fully grasp Baker's allegiance to veteran players, look no further than Neifi Perez, a few years back for the Cubs. Simply put, Baker would rather give up his sacred toothpick to help start a camp fire than play a rookie.

But Votto's bat can no longer be ignored.

After hitting 10-for-24 in a seven-day stretch, with 3 HR and 10 RBI, Baker has apparently given Votto the starting gig. Today was his sixth straight start at 1B and Baker even moved Votto up from 7th to 6th place in the order.

Votto also provides a surprising batch of speed for a 1B, swiping 23 in 2006 and 17 last year with AAA Louisville, where he hit 22 bombs.

You know, 20/20 guys don't exactly grown on waiver wires very often.

Fantasy spin: Hit the button. 

Votto, now with regular playing time, should be owned in all formats, mixed, NL-only, keeper, dynasty, roto, head-to-head, leagues with move limits and any other I'm forgetting. Of course, with any rookie, you must temper your expectations as there's bound to be rough patches, and you know Dusty loves the double-switch like it's his own son and Votto's defense can be shaky at times. Still, 22 HR, 15 SB is not that far-fetched but it's the RBI (85+) and a near-.300 average that will set apart Votto en route to a ROY-caliber season.