Joey Votto, the former National League MVP and six-time All-Star, announced his retirement from baseball in a brief video shared on social media on Wednesday.
The announcement came after Votto filmed the video outside Sahlen Field in Buffalo, where he had been playing with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team. Following the recording, he made his way to Toronto’s downtown stadium, where the Cincinnati Reds had just secured an 11-7 victory over the Blue Jays.
In the Cincinnati clubhouse, Votto greeted former teammates and manager David Bell before addressing the media about his retirement. The Toronto native signed a minor league deal with his hometown team in March but struggled to regain form after recovering from an ankle injury, finishing his Triple-A stint with a batting average of .143, one home run, and four RBIs over 15 games.
“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?’” Votto shared. “I just decided, you know, you’ve played long enough… and I was awful. I was awful down there.”
He expressed no regrets about concluding his career but did convey disappointment for not being able to play for the Blue Jays during this season. “I wanted to play a year in Toronto at home, in front of family, in front of my country,” he said. “I desperately wanted to participate in games here. I’m really saddened that I wasn’t able to make it happen.”
Votto, who turned 40, became a free agent last fall after his $251.5 million, 12-year contract with the Reds ended. Cincinnati chose not to exercise his $20 million option for 2024.
Reflecting on how the game has evolved, Votto remarked, “This game is faster… I’m slower. The one thing I could attempt to do is perform offensively, and I’ve been awful, especially for my position. At some point, the writing is on the wall.”
During his distinguished 17-season career, Votto earned the NL MVP title in 2010, along with a Gold Glove Award in 2011. He posted a .294 batting average with 356 home runs and 1,144 RBIs in 2,056 games.
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who became close to Votto during their time rehabilitating injuries, shared his admiration, calling him “an all-time great.” Manager David Bell expressed his happiness for Votto’s remarkable career, saying, “Just an incredible career, obviously.”
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Votto’s achievements as well, noting he enjoyed briefly getting to know him during spring training.
Votto’s 2023 season was hampered by a shoulder injury, limiting him to just 65 games. He made his season debut on June 19, ten months after undergoing surgery on his left biceps and rotator cuff.
“I just was not good enough, and that’s the end of it,” Votto stated. “I didn’t feel at any point in time like I was anywhere near major league ready.”