Joey Votto, a six-time National League All-Star and former most valuable player during his 17 major-league seasons as a first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, announced his retirement on Wednesday via Instagram.
“I was myself in this sport,” Votto wrote in part of his Instagram post. “I was able to be my best self. I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind.”
Votto, 40, had been attempting to make a big-league comeback through the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor-league system. He hit just .165 with a .569 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 31 games this season 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 the Blue Jays in March after finishing out a 12-year, $251.5 million deal with Cincinnati last year. The left-handed-hitting Votto batted .294 with 356 home runs, 1,144 RBIs, and a .920 OPS over 2,056 games for the Reds after being picked in the second round of the 2002 draft.
Votto made his major-league debut in 2007 and was named National League MVP in 2010, one of two seasons in which Cincinnati won the National League Central during Votto’s tenure. Votto won his lone Gold Glove Award in 2011.
“Cincinnati, I’ve only played for you. I love you,” Votto wrote.
Votto also thanked family members, fans, former teammates, and coaches in his post, which featured a short video of Votto outside the stadium of the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, a walk, and a run scored for Buffalo on Tuesday.
