Six-time All-Star Joey Votto announces his retirement after 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, ending a storied career with 356 home runs and an MVP award.
Bollywood Fever: Joey Votto, a six-time All-Star and former MVP who spent 17 major league seasons as a first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, announced his retirement on Wednesday through an emotional Instagram post.
“I was myself in this sport,” Votto shared in his post. “I was able to be my best self. I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind.”
The 40-year-old Votto had been attempting a big-league comeback through the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league system but struggled to find his form, hitting just .165 with a .569 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 31 games across three minor league levels for his hometown team.
“Toronto + Canada, I wanted to play in front of you. Sigh, I tried with all my heart to play for my people,” Votto wrote. “I’m just not good anymore. Thank you for all the support during my attempt.”
Votto signed a minor league contract with Toronto in March after completing a 12-year, $251.5 million deal with Cincinnati last year. Over his illustrious career with the Reds, the left-handed hitter batted .294 with 356 home runs, 1,144 RBIs, and a .920 OPS in 2,056 games. He was drafted by Cincinnati in the second round of the 2002 draft and made his major league debut in 2007.
Votto’s achievements include winning the National League MVP award in 2010 and securing a Gold Glove in 2011. He was a key player during two seasons in which Cincinnati won the NL Central.
In his farewell post, Votto expressed his deep connection to the city of Cincinnati, writing, “Cincinnati, I’ve only played for you. I love you.
Votto also took the opportunity to thank his family, fans, former teammates, and coaches. The post featured a short video of Votto outside the stadium of the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate, where he played his final game on Tuesday, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, a walk, and a run.
Votto’s retirement marks the end of an extraordinary career that left an indelible mark on the game and the city of Cincinnati.
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