Six-Time All-Star Officially Announces Retirement
Following an amazing 17-year career, longtime first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto has made the official decision to retire from Major League Baseball. On his Instagram page, Votto announced his retirement and thanked his parents, friends, teammates, and managers for their support and influence over his baseball career. With his announcement, one of the most incredible MLB careers in recent memory comes to a close. Votto, 40, leaves behind a legacy of excellence, reliability, and unwavering devotion to his own profession.
When the Reds elected not to exercise Votto's $20 million club option for the 2024 season, he became a free agent during the offseason. He would then sign a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. At the end of his professional career, Votto struggled to establish consistency in his batting throughout his 31 games in the Blue Jays minor league system, hitting .165, with 12 RBIs, 14 hits, 36 strikeouts, and two home runs. The six-time All-Star has nothing to be disappointed about after having one of the finest careers in MLB history, even though he played inconsistently in the latter part of his career. When Votto was selected by the Reds in the 2002 MLB Draft as an 18-year-old from Canada, his illustrious baseball career officially got underway.
Votto amassed an incredible 17-year career with the Reds, setting record after record and emerging as the team's face and a key component of their success during the previous two decades, including their postseason relevance. With the Reds, Votto ended second in team history in home runs, doubles, and on-base plus slugging percentage. He also finished with a career batting average of .294, the fourth-most hits in Reds history and the fifth-most games played in franchise history. In addition to his Hall of Fame career numbers, Votto won other awards during his career, including the 2010 NL Hank Aaron Award, the 2011 Gold Glove Award, the 2010 National League MVP, and six trips to the All-Star Game.
Beyond the stats and awards, Votto's greatest influence was mostly felt by his teammates, who benefited from his skill and success. In his final two seasons in Cincinnati, Votto talked about the value of mentoring the team's younger players, including Tyler Stephenson, Will Benson, and Reds sensation Elly De La Cruz. A chapter in Reds history and MLB history as a whole ended with Votto's decision to hang up his cleats. Votto's career serves as an excellent example of the value of perseverance, hard work, and a strong drive for success. Even if his career may technically be over, Votto's influence on the Reds and the game will endure forever.
