A fan favorite in Cincinnati is heading to the broadcast booth.
Cincinnati Reds legend Joey Votto is finalizing a deal with NBC Sports to become part of the network's MLB coverage when it returns to baseball in 2026, according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
Votto will join Clayton Kershaw and Anthony Rizzo as the network prepares to take over Sunday Night Baseball from ESPN and launch what could be one of the most exciting broadcast teams in the sport.
This marks a huge moment for both Votto and NBC, which is coming back to baseball for the first time in 26 years after securing a three-year, $600 million deal last fall that includes exclusive Wild Card playoff rights.
The network's Sunday Night Baseball coverage will feature teams from across the league.
Votto's Personality Finally Gets a National Stage
Votto spent 17 seasons in Cincinnati, slashing .294/.409/.511 with 356 home runs and 1,144 RBI while earning six All-Star selections and winning the 2010 National League MVP award.
The Reds finished 83-79 in 2025 and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in two games, so Votto will have plenty to talk about when it comes to his former club and their young core built around Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene.
What makes this hire so interesting is that Votto's quirky personality and sharp baseball mind have always been on display in small doses, but now he gets a chance to show it off nationally on a weekly basis.
During the 2022 season, he called several Reds games alongside John Sadak and Barry Larkin while rehabbing an injury, and fans loved every minute of it.
He also had a memorable moment when he was mic'd up during a 2022 Opening Day game for ESPN against the Braves, where he broke down hitting mechanics and even asked Ozzie Albies about getting a gold tooth while the ball was in play.
NBC Building Something Special
The network's return to baseball comes at a time when the sport's media landscape is shifting in a big way, and landing Votto, Kershaw, and Rizzo gives NBC instant credibility with fans who want smart analysis and entertaining personalities in the booth.
One sports TV producer told McCarthy that Votto is "a no-brainer" because he has a national name, he's an MVP, and he's a natural in front of the camera.
Another source added that if NBC wants to make a splash with Sunday Night Baseball, Joey would be perfect.
Kershaw is expected to work a limited schedule that includes Opening Day, Labor Day, and Wild Card games while Rizzo rounds out the group, but it's easy to imagine a studio show featuring all three former stars that could rival what Fox does with Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez.
For Reds fans who have followed every step of his career, watching Votto break down the game on a national stage will feel like a fitting next chapter for a player who always approached baseball with an intellectual curiosity that set him apart from everyone else in the sport.