Baseball Icon Votto Hangs Up Cleats after 17 MLB seasons
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By Doug Hirdle
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Summary:
- Canadian icon Joey Votto has announced his retirement from baseball.
- Votto played 17 MLB seasons, earning six all-star selections, a 2010 National League MVP award, and a Gold Glove.
- The decision came after the Blue Jays GM told him a call-up was highly unlikely.
Canadian icon Joey Votto has announced its retirement from professional baseball via an Instagram post on Wednesday evening.
The 40-year-old first baseman who spent all of his career playing for the Cincinnati Reds posted a brief video filmed in what appears to be a parking lot, saying
That’s it. I’m done. I am officially retiring from baseball.
Votto added a long description to the post in which he thanked his parents, brother, friends, coaches, colleagues, and fans.
The announcement was made minutes prior to Toronto hosting Cincinnati in the finale of a three-game series, which the Reds won 11-7.
17 Impressive MLB Seasons
The decision came on Wednesday after, according to TSN’s Scott Mitchell, Blue Jays’ general manager, Ross Atkins, drove to Buffalo to have a talk with Votto and inform him about the very slim likelihood of a call-up for him.
The Toronto native spent 17 seasons in the MLB, which brought him six all-star selections, a 2010 National League MVP award, and a prestigious Gold Glove.
Votto played his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds. Last spring, he inked a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays.
He never got the chance to play a major-league game for his hometown team.
Thank you to my parents, Wendy and Joe, for giving me everything I needed to fulfill my dream of becoming a professional baseball player. Thank you to my brother, Tyler Votto, for throwing me wiffle balls for all these years (ha ha, you are the best, I had to write this.)
Votto also thanked his high school colleagues and fellow baseball fans, the Etobicoke community that supported him as a youth player, Leon Roberts and Freddie Benavides whom Votto helped him become a pro player, and Dusty Baker and Scott Rolen who taught him how to be a “pro’s pro”.
“Toronto and Canada, I wanted to Play in Front of You.”
Toronto + Canada, I wanted to play in front of you. Sigh, I tried with all my heart to play for my people. I’m just not good anymore. Thank you for all the support during my attempt.
The player who represented Canada at the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2013 and won the Lou Marsh Trophy (now the Northern Star Award), as the Canadian athlete of the year in 2010 and 2017, continued his post by saying “Cincinnati, I’ve only played for you. I love you”.
Votto, who was drafted out of high school by the Reds during the second round of the 2002 MLB draft and managed to hit .294 with 356 home runs and 1,444 RBI in a whopping 2,056 games is ending his career on-base plus slugging percentage of .920.
I was myself in this sport. I was able to be my best self. I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind.
Votto could become the third Canadian player to join the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. He will be officially eligible for induction in 2029.
The longtime Red’s US$251.5-million contract contract spreading over 12 years came to an end last fall, which turned him into a free agent.
The shoulder injury that he suffered limited him to just 65 games in the previous season. Cincinnati said no to his $20-million option for 2024.
