TORONTO — Joey Votto, a former National League MVP and six-time All-Star, announced his retirement from baseball in a brief video shared on social media on Wednesday.
Filming the announcement outside Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, where he had been competing with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team, Votto later crossed the border to Toronto’s stadium, coinciding with the Reds’ 11-7 victory against the Blue Jays. Afterward, he visited the Cincinnati clubhouse to connect with former teammates and manager David Bell and then addressed the media regarding his retirement.
Born in Toronto, Votto signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays in March. Following a significant recovery period from an ankle injury, he played in Triple-A, achieving a batting average of .143 with one home run and four RBIs over 15 games, striking out 22 times.
Votto reflected on his retirement, stating, “I had moments where I was like, ‘Is this the right thing to do?’ and ‘Do I want the organization to tell me I’m done?’” He ultimately decided it was time to step back, acknowledging, “I was awful. I was awful down there.”
While he expressed “zero regrets” about concluding his career, he did voice disappointment over not having the chance to play for the Blue Jays this season. “I wanted to play a year in Toronto at home, in front of family, in front of my country,” he shared, expressing sadness over what didn’t materialize.
At 40 years old, Votto became a free agent last fall after completing a $251.5 million, 12-year contract with the Reds, his only team throughout a 17-year major league career. Cincinnati had declined his $20 million option for 2024.
Discussing changes in the game, Votto remarked, “This game is faster. I’m not fast… I’ve been awful, especially for my position. At some point, the writing is on the wall.”
The 2010 NL MVP and a Gold Glove winner in 2011, Votto concluded his career with a .294 batting average, 356 home runs, and 1,144 RBIs over 2,056 games.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson, who developed a friendship with Votto during injury rehabilitation, commented, “It was an honor to get to know him as a friend and as a player. He’s an all-time great.”
Manager David Bell learned of Votto’s decision following Wednesday’s game, praising Votto’s remarkable career. Blue Jays manager John Schneider also commended him, calling it “an unbelievable career.”
In 2023, Votto played in only 65 games due to a shoulder injury. His first game of the season came on June 19, ten months after undergoing surgery on his left biceps and rotator cuff. Votto hit a home run in his only spring training at-bat on March 17 but subsequently suffered a setback when he stepped on a bat in the dugout.
“I just was not good enough, and that’s the end of it,” Votto concluded. “I didn’t feel at any point in time like I was anywhere near major league ready.”