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Watch scouting footage from when Joey Votto was a scrawny high schooler

SARASOTA, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Infielder Joey Votto #64 of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a photo during the Reds photo day on February 24, 2006 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joey Votto (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Joey Votto has perhaps the greatest batting eye in the Majors -- he's led the league in on-base percentage five times -- and you could make the argument that he's the best active first baseman in the Majors. Votto's fWAR is second among first basemen since making his full-season debut in 2008, behind only Miguel Cabrera.
He also has perhaps the best-fitting pants, the greatest eyebrows and has become baseball's finest troll
But he wasn't always the self-assured star that you see now. Like all of us, he had to get through high school. Thanks to this scouting video, we can get a sense of what made Votto a second-round pick in 2002:

While the well-bloused pants and finely curated brows are still there, Votto is a fraction of the muscular He-Man he's become today: 

The transformation wasn't overnight, though. Not only did Votto iron out a swing that appeared a little stiff in high school to eventually both crush the ball over the fence and almost never hit infield flies, but even his Minor League performance didn't predict his big league aptitude. Votto's Major League OPS is 100 points higher than his Minor League numbers.
(h/t r/Reds)

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