The Cincinnati Reds’ legendary first baseman Joey Votto announced his retirement from baseball via an Instagram reel shared on Wednesday.
Votto spent the first 17 seasons of his career with the Reds before signing a minor-league deal with his hometown team, Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran wasn’t able to crack the Blue Jays’ MLB roster and ended up playing 31 games in the minors this season.
“That’s it,” said Votto. “I’m done. I am officially retired from baseball.”
Votto also thanked his family, MLB fans, and everyone who supported him over the course of his career in the caption of the reel.
“I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind. Thank you for everything,” he added.
The Cincinnati Reds drafted Joey Votto out of high school in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2007 and ended up putting together an impressive career with the franchise. During his 17 seasons in Cincinnati, Votto made six All-Star appearances and earned the NL MVP award in 2010.
The Reds decided to decline a $20 million club option on Votto ahead of the 2024 MLB season, sending him to free agency. He hoped to get another season in the majors with the Blue Jays, but a spring training injury that sidelined him for three months and ensuing struggles in the minors prevented him from achieving that.
Votto is retiring with a .294 career batting average, 2,135 hits, 356 homers, and 1,144 RBIs.
