According to Shi Davidi of Rogers Sportsnet on Wednesday, first baseman Joey Votto of Toronto, Ontario retired at the age of 40. How Votto retired is noteworthy. In spring training, Votto hit a home run for the Toronto Blue Jays. As he moved his way back to the dugout, he stepped on a bat, rolled his ankle, and suffered a serious injury. As Votto’s ankle healed, he spent time in the Blue Jays’s AAA system in Buffalo trying to get his swing back which would make him an impact player for the Blue Jays. It never came. As a result, retirement was the best option.
Votto played 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 2007 to 2023 before coming to terms with Toronto on March 9. In 2056 games, 7252 at bats, and 8746 plate appearances, he scored 1171 runs and had 2135 hits, 459 doubles, 22 triples, 356 home runs, 1144 runs batted in, 80 stolen bases, 1365 walks, 3706 total bases, 48 sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .409 and a slugging percentage of .511.
Among the statistical categories Votto was the National League single season leader in were doubles (40 in 2011), walks (110 in 2011, 94 in 2012, 135 in 2013, 143 in 2015, and 134 in 2017), on base percentage (.424 in 2010, .416 in 2011, .474 in 2012, .435 in 2013, .434 in 2016, .454 in 2017, and .417 in 2018), and slugging percentage (.600 in 2010).
Six times Votto was a National League All-Star (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018). In 2010, he was the National League Most Valuable Player (batted .324 with 37 home runs and 113 runs batted in), and won the Tip O’Neill Award seven times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017).
