GOODYEAR, Arizona – When Joey Votto took batting practice during Wednesday’s workout, he wore a hat with a tribute to former All-Star shortstop Tony Fernández, who died Sunday after complications from kidney disease.

“RIP Tony. My dad and I loved you,” Votto wrote in black sharpie on the left side of his cap.

Fernández, a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, played 12 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He played with the Cincinnati Reds in 1994. Votto, a Toronto native, watched the Blue Jays many times throughout his childhood.

“My condolences to his family,” Votto said. “My father and I would watch the Blue Jays play and he was the guy. My father and I liked Devon White, but Tony was the slick guy and the guy that just had this great personality and had a hitting style that was just so distinct. A style of defense that was also distinct. He was just such a treat, and everybody seemed to like him.”

Votto writes messages on his cap when he wants to make public tributes. He wrote Dayton inside of a heart on his baseball cap during a game last season after a mass shooting in the city’s entertainment district.

For Fernández, it was a touching gesture for a player that he admired throughout his childhood.

“It’s sad that he passed away, but I just wanted to show my appreciation,” Votto said. “Let Toronto know that I was raised watching him, loving him and supporting that team. I felt like, you’re not close to these people, but you feel like you’re close to them in some way. It’s certainly sad.”

RULE 5 PICK: It’s hard to believe any player in baseball history could be drafted more times than outfielder Mark Payton, the Reds’ Rule 5 Draft pick in December.

Payton was a 31st-round pick in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, but opted to play college baseball at Texas. He was taken in the 16th round in 2013 by the Cleveland Indians but didn’t sign. Then he was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees.

It didn’t end there. Payton was selected in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft before the 2019 season by the Oakland A’s. Then the Reds chose him in the offseason.

“I was shocked,” Payton said of his reaction when he was picked by the Reds. “I wasn’t really expecting much. I got a phone call and I was just hanging around the house, not paying attention. It kind of jumpstarted my offseason a little bit quicker than I expected. Put a little sense of urgency to getting ready to show what I can do.”

As a Rule 5 Draft pick, Payton must remain on the Reds’ active roster throughout the entire 2020 season. If the Reds don’t have room for him, he will be placed on waivers and could be returned to the A’s. It’s rare to see Rule 5 picks last the entire season. Former Reds catcher Stuart Turner was a recent example in 2017, but he didn’t return to the big leagues after that season.

Payton, 28, had a .334 batting average and .400 on-base percentage at Triple-A last season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He had 30 homers, 30 doubles and 97 RBI in 118 games. It was the first time he hit more than 10 homers in a season. He has experience playing all three outfield positions.

“He absolutely has a chance to be on this team,” Reds manager David Bell said. “We’re excited about him. We selected him for a reason. He’s a guy that really had a bit of a breakthrough in the last year. You see that more and more now, I think. You see players that have a track record along the way. He’s always been a good player but all of a sudden, there’s an adjustment or whatever the case, and they take off.”

Along with the Rule 5 restrictions, Payton is a longshot to make the roster. Nick Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin and Aristides Aquino already highlight a crowded outfield.

The Reds selected Payton in the Rule 5 Draft before signing Akiyama and Castellanos.

“Obviously, you just want something to play in your favor,” Payton said. “Whatever it may be – you think of all the scenarios – they carry six (outfielders). You try not to think about it. Just go out and play and make it a tough decision on the front office and the on-field staff.”

FULL-SQUAD WORKOUT: The Reds didn’t do many on-field team activities besides stretching and conditioning during their first full-squad workout Tuesday, but Wednesday was filled with live batting practice sessions, baserunning drills and first-to-third defensive situation drills.

It’s been a more compact camp this spring with players trusted to progress at their own pace.

“Guys are prepared for that and knew what to expect,” Bell said. “It’s part of how we see this, just about being efficient. It’s difficult for anybody, when you have extra time, it takes you out of the present moment and it’s hard to focus for that long. When you’re more on task, it’s easier to stay in the moment.”

SUÁREZ UPDATE: Eugenio Suárez, recovering from shoulder surgery on his throwing arm last month, remains limited at camp. He took ground balls at third base Wednesday when his teammates were playing catch to warm up their arms. Buddy Bell watched from the third-base coaches’ box.

David Bell said there is no timetable for him to play in spring training games.

“Not yet,” David Bell said. “I mean, if everything goes well and perfect, we know it’s going to be in time to get enough activity in there to be ready for Opening Day. That’s if everything goes perfect. Right now, there is no reason to believe it won’t.”