Votto traded his own bat with fan for ball from Cozart's 1st ASG hit

This gift from Joey Votto probably means a whole lot more to Zack Cozart than any donkey.

The 32-year-old Cozart, in the midst of a career season with the Cincinnati Reds, made his first career All-Star appearance as the National League's starting shortstop Tuesday night. And Cozart didn't let the opportunity go to waste, as he ripped a third-inning single off New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances for his first-ever All-Star hit.

Only Votto, however, seemed to notice that the ball from Cozart's first hit remained in use after the at-bat.

When Charlie Blackmon fouled the ball off and a security guard handed it to a young fan, the star first baseman snapped into action. According to C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Votto instructed staff in the NL dugout to trade any memorabilia they could find in his locker to the fan in exchange for Cozart's ball.

The move worked. Cozart got his ball, and the 13-year-old fan left Marlins Park with a bat and two baseballs, each bearing Votto's signature.

"I didn't even know he got the ball until after I got out," Cozart told Rosecrans. "They said Joey told them to get me the ball, that's why he's my guy."

The bond between Votto and Cozart, teammates in Cincinnati since 2011, gained significant attention after the Canadian slugger revealed his promise to buy Cozart a donkey if he ever became an All-Star. The tactic worked, as Cozart was indeed voted an All-Star starter, and Votto told Rosecrans that his friend will receive the donkey in Cincinnati next week.

Related: Reds show off Cozart's donkey-themed All-Star shoes

Cozart's single was the first by a Reds player in the All-Star Game in seven years. Votto finished the All-Star Game 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a walk.