Joey Votto, the celebrated former NL MVP and six-time All-Star, has officially retired from baseball, as announced in a poignant video shared on social media this Wednesday. Votto filmed the video outside Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, where he had been playing for the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team. He then made his way to Toronto’s Rogers Centre, where the Reds had just secured an 11-7 victory over the Blue Jays.
Votto, a Toronto native, had signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays earlier in March. After an extended period recovering from an ankle injury, he made a brief appearance at Triple-A, but struggled with only a .143 average, one home run, four RBIs, and 22 strikeouts in 15 games.
In his retirement announcement, Votto expressed his internal conflict about stepping away from the game, revealing his uncertainties about whether it was the right decision or if the organization should be the one to end his career. Despite feeling no regrets about his decision, he expressed disappointment in not achieving his goal of playing a full season in Toronto, which he had longed for to be close to family and fans.
Votto’s retirement comes after the end of a substantial $251.5 million, 12-year contract with the Reds, the only team he had known throughout his 17-year MLB career. Cincinnati opted not to exercise his $20 million option for 2024. Votto acknowledged the changing nature of baseball, noting his struggle to keep up with the sport’s evolving demands and his own diminishing skills.
Over his storied career, Votto, known for his exceptional contributions including the 2010 NL MVP and a Gold Glove in 2011, leaves behind impressive statistics: a .294 batting average, 356 home runs, and 1,144 RBIs across 2,056 games. His retirement was met with tributes from Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson and Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who praised Votto’s remarkable career and character.
Following a shoulder injury that limited him to just 65 games in 2023, and missing remarkable time due to an injury-related setback, Votto’s final season was challenging. Reflecting on his performance, he concluded that he was no longer capable of competing at a major league level, marking the end of a distinguished baseball career.