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 publish.

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

After recording the video exterior Buffalo’s Sahlen Area, the place he’d been enjoying 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 choice.

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 enjoying at Triple-A. He went 6-for-42 with one homer and 4 RBIs in 15 video games, placing out 22 instances.

“I had moments the place I used to be like, ‘Is that this the fitting factor to do?’ and, ‘Do I need the group to inform me I am executed?'” Votto stated. “I simply determined, you realize, you have performed lengthy sufficient, you may interpret what is going on on, 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 enjoying for the Blue Jays this season.

“I needed to play a 12 months in Toronto at residence, in entrance of household, in entrance of my nation,” he stated. “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 turned a free agent final fall after the top of a 12-year, $251.5 million contract with the Reds, who chosen him within the second spherical of the 2002 novice 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 share in 2,056 video games. He led the Nationwide League in on-base share seven instances and was a Gold Glove winner in 2011.

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

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

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson turned 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 stated. “He is an all-time nice.”

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

“I can not categorical how completely satisfied I’m for the profession that Joey had as a participant,” Bell stated. “Simply an unbelievable profession, clearly.”

Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider agreed.

“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 did not play his first sport 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 sport and was sidelined for the subsequent three months.

“I simply was not adequate, and that is the top of it,” Votto stated. “I did not really feel at any time limit like I used to be wherever close to main league prepared.”

Data from The Related Press was used on this report.