Joey Votto, former MVP and longtime Cincinnati Reds star, retires

TORONTO — Former NL MVP and six-time All-Star Joey Votto introduced his retirement from baseball in a quick video posted to social media Wednesday.

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

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

The Toronto-born Votto signed a minor league contract together with his hometown group 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, hanging out 22 instances.

“I had moments the place I used to be like, ‘Is that this the appropriate factor to do?’ and ‘Do I would like the group to inform me I’m carried out?’” Votto stated. “I simply determined, , you’ve performed lengthy sufficient, you possibly can interpret what’s happening, and I used to be terrible. I used to be terrible down there.”

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

“I wished to play a 12 months in Toronto at dwelling, in entrance of household, in entrance of my nation,” he stated. “I desperately wished to take part in video games right here. I’m actually saddened that I wasn’t in a position to make it occur.”

The 40-year-old first baseman turned a free agent final fall following the tip of a $251.5 million, 12-year contract with the Reds, his solely group over 17 main league seasons. Cincinnati declined Votto’s $20 million choice for 2024.

Votto stated baseball has modified lately, including that he wasn’t in a position to play on the prime degree any extra.

“This recreation is quicker,” Votto stated. “I’m not quick. This recreation is about extra dynamic protection. This recreation has modified over the course of the again quarter of my profession. I’m slower. The one factor I may try and do is carry out offensively, and I’ve been terrible, particularly for my place. Sooner or later, the writing is on the wall.”

The 2010 NL MVP and a Gold Glove winner in 2011, Votto hit .294 with 356 dwelling runs and 1,144 RBIs in 2,056 video games.

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

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

Bell stated he realized of Votto’s choice after Wednesday’s win over the Blue Jays.

“I can’t specific how comfortable I’m for the profession that Joey had as a participant,” Bell stated. “Simply an unbelievable profession, clearly.”

Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider additionally had reward for Votto.

“An unbelievable profession,” Schneider stated. “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 didn’t 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 following three months.

“I simply was not ok, and that’s the tip of it,” Votto stated. “I didn’t really feel at any time limit like I used to be wherever close to main league prepared.”