Joey Votto is one step closer to playing for his hometown Toronto Blue Jays.
The six-time All-Star has been assigned to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons and will make his debut with that squad on Friday night against the visiting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Signed to a minor-league deal by the Blue Jays before the season, Votto is working back from a sprained ankle he suffered during spring training, which has kept him off the field for three months.
The 40-year-old Votto returned to game action in mid-June with Blue Jays’ lower-level, minor-league affiliates in Florida.
In 16 games in the Florida Complex League and single-A Dunedin, Votto slashed .186/.321/.326 with one home run and eight RBIs.
Before signing with the Blue Jays, Votto spent his entire major-league career with the Cincinnati Reds.
The infielder was National League MVP in 2010.
