Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, a six-time All-Star and former National League MVP, announced his retirement on Wednesday through Instagram.
Reflecting on his 17-year Major League Baseball career, Votto, 40, expressed gratitude and satisfaction with his journey.
“I was myself in this sport,” he wrote, adding, “I played with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind.”
In his heartfelt post, he acknowledged his efforts but admitted, “I’m just not good anymore.” Votto also expressed his disappointment in not being able to play in front of his hometown fans in Toronto, saying he gave his best efforts but fell short.
Votto had been working towards a comeback through the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system but struggled to regain form, batting just .165 with a .569 on-base-plus-slugging percentage across 31 games in three different minor league levels this season.
Earlier this year, Votto signed a minor league contract with Toronto after completing a 12-year, $251.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
Over his career with Cincinnati, Votto played 2,056 games, hitting .294 with 356 home runs, 1,144 RBIs, and a .920 OPS. He was drafted in the second round of the 2002 draft and made his major league debut in 2007.
In 2010, he was named National League MVP and helped the Reds win two NL Central titles during his time. He also won his only Gold Glove Award in 2011.
