Joey Votto, the longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman, retires

Longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, a six-time All-Star and the 2010 MVP within the Nationwide League, has retired.

The 40-year-old made the announcement in a brief video on social media Wednesday evening accompanied by an extended written put up.

“I used to be myself on this sport,” he wrote. “I used to be in a position to be my greatest self. I performed this sport with each final ounce of my physique, coronary heart, and thoughts. Thanks for every thing.”

After recording the video exterior Buffalo’s Sahlen Area, the place he’d been taking part in for the Blue Jays’ Triple-A crew, Votto took a journey throughout the border to Toronto’s downtown stadium, the place the Reds had simply overwhelmed the Blue Jays 11-7.

Votto went into the Cincinnati clubhouse to satisfy former teammates and supervisor David Bell, then spoke to reporters about his determination.

The Toronto-born Votto signed a minor league contract together with his hometown crew in March and, following a prolonged layoff due to an ankle harm, had been taking part in at Triple-A. He went 6-for-42 with one homer and 4 RBIs in 15 video games, putting out 22 instances.

“I had moments the place I used to be like, ‘Is that this the precise factor to do?’ and, ‘Do I would like the group to inform me I am executed?'” Votto mentioned. “I simply determined, you already know, you’ve got performed lengthy sufficient, you’ll be able to interpret what is going on on, and I used to be terrible. I used to be terrible down there.”

Votto mentioned he had “zero regrets” about ending his profession however acknowledged disappointment in not taking part in for the Blue Jays this season.

“I needed to play a yr in Toronto at residence, in entrance of household, in entrance of my nation,” he mentioned. “I desperately needed to take part in video games right here. I am actually saddened that I wasn’t in a position to make it occur.”

Votto grew to become a free agent final fall after the tip of a 12-year, $251.5 million contract with the Reds, who chosen him within the second spherical of the 2002 beginner draft out of Richview Collegiate Institute in Toronto. Cincinnati declined Votto’s $20 million choice for 2024.

Throughout his 17 large league seasons in Cincinnati, Votto had a .294 batting common with 356 homers, 1,144 RBIs and a .409 on-base proportion in 2,056 video games. He led the Nationwide League in on-base proportion seven instances and was a Gold Glove winner in 2011.

Votto mentioned baseball has modified in recent times, including that he wasn’t in a position to play on the high degree any extra.

“This recreation is quicker,” Votto mentioned. “I am not quick. This recreation is about extra dynamic protection. This recreation has modified over the course of the again quarter of my profession. I am slower. The one factor I may try to do is carry out offensively, and I have been terrible, particularly for my place. In some unspecified time in the future, the writing is on the wall.”

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson grew to become pleasant with Votto whereas they rehabbed accidents collectively, including that the star slugger was later a visitor at his marriage ceremony.

“It was an honor to get to know him as a buddy and as a participant,” Stephenson mentioned. “He is an all-time nice.”

Bell mentioned he discovered of Votto’s determination after Wednesday’s win over the Blue Jays.

“I am unable to categorical how glad I’m for the profession that Joey had as a participant,” Bell mentioned. “Simply an unbelievable profession, clearly.”

Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider agreed.

“An unbelievable profession,” Schneider mentioned. “Attending to know him briefly in spring was a deal with for everybody.”

A shoulder harm restricted Votto to 65 video games in 2023. He did not play his first recreation till June 19, 10 months to the day after surgical procedure on his left biceps and rotator cuff.

Votto homered off Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler in his solely spring coaching at-bat for Toronto on March 17. He stepped on a bat within the dugout later in that recreation and was sidelined for the subsequent three months.

“I simply was not adequate, and that is the tip of it,” Votto mentioned. “I did not really feel at any cut-off date like I used to be wherever close to main league prepared.”

Info from The Related Press was used on this report.