Joey Votto, legendary Reds first baseman, retires after 17 seasons: ‘I have zero regrets’

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds acknowledges the crowd after the 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 24, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Eventually, it was the 40-year-old Joey Votto who concluded he was as of now not ready to play at the major-association level. The long-lasting Cincinnati Reds first baseman declared his retirement via online entertainment Wednesday, shutting a profession that included six Elite player determinations and spread over 17 MLB seasons, all played with the Reds.

Votto posted his retirement declaration on Instagram not long before a game between the Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays — his old neighborhood group he was wanting to end his vocation with. He kept the declaration in the parking area of the arena of the Blue Jays’ Triple-A group in Bison, N.Y., prior to showing up at Rogers Center in Toronto for the finish of the Reds’ 11-7 triumph.

After 15 games for Bison that saw him go 6-for-42 with 22 strikeouts, Votto chose to resign.

“I recently chose, you know, you’ve played sufficiently long, you can decipher what’s happening, and I was dreadful,” Votto told correspondents after Wednesday’s down. “I was terrible down there. Also, the pattern was not quickly enough, and I felt at no reason for time like I was even close to major-association prepared.”

Votto marked a small time manage the Blue Jays in the spring. He saw simply a solitary contribute spring preparing, hitting a homer off the Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler. Votto experienced a lower leg injury later in that game, stopping his rebound.

He played 31 games north of three levels for the Blue Jays, hitting a consolidated .165 for the Blue Jays’ Florida Complex Association group, the Low-A Dunedin group and Bison. Votto was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts for the Buffaloes on Tuesday.

Following the 2023 season, the Reds declined Votto’s $20 million choice for 2024.

The marking of first baseman Jeimer Candelario successfully shut the entryway on Votto’s re-visitation of Cincinnati. Votto said he believed he may as yet play and the Blue Jays allowed him that opportunity. At last, Votto couldn’t perform to his norms.

Joey Votto never surpassed his assumptions, yet was all that baseball required

“I can share with the absolute last pitch I was giving my actual all,” Votto said. “In any case, you know, there’s an end for all competitors. Time is undefeated, as it’s been said. Furthermore, I can say with satisfaction that I did this baseball thing, you know, I attempted to do it with what I was given, and utilizing the direction from individuals who have taught me and individuals I’ve played with and my opposition. So I have zero second thoughts.”

Chosen by the Reds out of a Toronto-region secondary school in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft, Votto amassed a Corridor of Popularity continue that incorporates a .294 profession batting normal, a .409 on-base rate, 2,135 hits, 356 homers and the 2010 Public Association Most Significant Player Grant.

“It would have been magnificent for (Votto) to be here and to play against him, however he had quite a vocation, and it was a distinction to get to know him as a companion and as a player, and he’s a record-breaking perfect,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said following Wednesday’s down. “Furthermore, I mean, I grew up watching him. I was in secondary school, and we are right here. I became a partner with him. He had an extraordinary profession — incredible partner, incredible companion.”

Joey Votto ponders choice to resign, missing the mark regarding dream to play for Blue Jays

In the subtitle of the Instagram post reporting his retirement, Votto stated, “Toronto + Canada, I needed to play before you. Murmur, I attempted with everything that is in me to play for my kin. I’m simply bad any longer. Much thanks to you for all the help during my endeavor.”

“Cincinnati, I’ve just played for you,” his post proceeded. “I love you.”