Baseball star Joey Votto is playing chess in Toronto

If you ask George Supol what he thinks of six-time MLB All-Star Joey Votto, he'll tell you that he has a great attitude and is a great role model, especially for younger players.

But Supol isn't talking about the Toronto-born baseball player's abilities on the field. He's talking about how Votto plays chess.

According to Supol, the Cincinnati Reds first baseman has been visiting the Annex Chess Club (ACC), located north of Bathurst and Bloor streets, every week for several months.

“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” the ACC director told CTV News Toronto in an email.

The news that Votto was at the local chess club was no secret. The 39-year-old Torontonian has been posting about her travels since the beginning of the year.

On January 10, Votto announced his first chess win at the club on Instagram, attributing the success to the barley soup he had for lunch that day.

Then, on January 16, Votto was seen taking the GO Train and TTC to attend a Monday Night Chess gathering.

As an observer, Supol said he thinks Votto is “really happy” during his weekly visit to the clubhouse in the annex.

“Joey is a great guy and a fantastic baseball player. We are very happy that he has chosen ACC as his club,” he said.

In another Instagram post, Votto said it was “a gift” to find a group that allowed him to be social and do something challenging/fun.

“Annex Chess Club, thank you for welcoming me,” Votto wrote.

While it's hard to say whether the draw of Votto's presence at the Downtown Toronto Chess Club has led to an increase in overall attendance, Supol said membership is still growing steadily.

“Chess is difficult to master and there is room for improvement at every level. We need great chess players to inspire others,” he said.

The length of Votto's ACC residency is still up in the air reports he indicated earlier this season that he could be open to a return to the Reds.

In the meantime, Supol said the players at the club are looking forward to seeing him when the schedule allows, especially in the offseason.

“ACC's fundamental philosophy has always been 'Chess for All!' was. “Whether you're a sports superstar like Joey or you're just a regular Joe,” Supol said.

With files from Abby O'Brien