Joey Votto Retires: Canadian Baseball Legend Hangs Up Cleats After 17 Seasons

Canadian baseball icon Joey Votto has officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball, bringing an end to a stellar 17-season career.

The 40-year-old first baseman shared the news with fans through an Instagram post on Wednesday evening, stating simply, "That's it. I'm done. I am officially retiring from baseball."

Votto's career is marked by significant achievements, including six All-Star selections, a Gold Glove award, and the prestigious 2010 National League MVP title.

The Toronto native spent his entire MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, solidifying his place as one of the game's most respected and accomplished players.

Despite his long tenure with the Reds, Votto had hoped to finish his career playing for his hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

He signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays last spring, but his hopes of playing in the major leagues for Toronto were dashed.

Votto's only spring training appearance for the Blue Jays came on March 17, where he homered off Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler in his lone at-bat.

However, an unfortunate injury followed when he stepped on a bat in the dugout during the same game, sidelining him for the next three months.

In his brief time with the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, Votto managed just one home run, four RBIs, and a .143 batting average across 15 games.

Reflecting on his efforts, Votto expressed his disappointment in an emotional Instagram post: "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."

He also took the time to thank his family, former teammates, and coaches for their unwavering support throughout his career.

Votto's retirement announcement came just minutes before the Blue Jays faced the Cincinnati Reds in the final game of their three-game series on Wednesday night, a game that saw the Reds emerge victorious with an 11-7 win.

Throughout his career, Votto represented Canada on the international stage, playing in the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2013.

He was also a two-time recipient of the Lou Marsh Trophy, now known as the Northern Star Award, given to Canada's athlete of the year by a panel of journalists in 2010 and 2017.

Drafted out of high school by the Reds in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft, Votto went on to amass impressive career statistics.

He finished with a .294 batting average, 356 home runs, and 1,444 RBIs over 2,056 games, with an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .920.

His career-best season came in 2010 when he hit 37 home runs, a personal record he nearly matched in 2017 and 2021 with 36 homers each year.

As one of Canada's greatest baseball players, Votto is widely regarded as a strong candidate for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

If elected, he would join pitcher Fergie Jenkins and slugger Larry Walker as the third Canadian player to receive this honour.

Votto will be eligible for induction in 2029.

Votto's decision to retire follows a challenging 2023 season where a shoulder injury limited him to just 65 games.

After the season, Cincinnati declined to exercise their $20 million option for 2024, making Votto a free agent.

In his retirement message, Votto reflected on the highs and lows of his career, expressing gratitude to MLB fans for their support.

"To the MLB fans. You energized me with your cheers, I loved the boos, the trash talk, the moments where I broke a road cities moment, or was humbled on stage," he wrote.

Votto reminisced about his early experiences in the league, particularly a memorable moment at Wrigley Field where, despite being on the receiving end of a hostile crowd, he realized that the big stage was where he truly belonged.