Votto retires from baseball, thanks Oakville minor baseball

After 17 seasons, Joey Votto is calling it a career.

The longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman announced his retirement Wednesday evening (Aug. 21) via Instagram.

The 40-year-old Mimico native, who was trying to work his way back from an ankle injury to the majors in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, took the time to thank his parents, teammates, coaches and even several of the youth baseball organizations he played with including Oakville.

“Oakville, Queensway, Kingsway, Bloordale, Thunderbirds, and Bob Smyth and the Etobicoke Rangers for raising me as a youth baseball player,” Votto wrote on his Instagram post.

As usual, family comes first for Votto, and he made sure to point out just how much they have helped him in achieving everything he’s done.

“Thank you to my parents, Wendy and Joe, for giving me everything I needed to fulfill my dream of becoming a professional baseball player,” he said. “Thank you to my brother, Tyler Votto, for throwing me wiffle balls for all those years (ha, ha you are the best. I had to write this.).”

Votto spent his whole major league career with the Reds, racking up 2,135 hits in 7,252 at bats over 2056 games and finishing with a .294 batting average. He earned six all-star selections, one Gold Glove and a 2010 National League MVP award.

The power hitting infielder belted 356 home runs and 459 doubles while driving in 1,144 runs. His best season with the Reds came in that 2010 season when he homered 37 times and drove in 113 runs while finishing with a .324 batting average.

Votto finished only second to Larry Walker among Canadians in homers and RBIs.

After his contract ended with the Reds in 2023, the club made the decision to not resign him.

“Cincinnati, I’ve only played for you,” he said. “I love you.”

The Blue Jays inked the veteran to a minor league deal and Votto was working his way through the Toronto minor league system when he reinjured his ankle.

Votto had worked his way up to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but a call to the majors never came. He struggled to a .143 average with the Toronto affiliate.

The Blue Jays were set to wrap up a three-game series at home against Cincinnati on Wednesday night when Votto made his decision to retire shortly before game time.

“Toronto (and) Canada, I wanted to play in front of you,” he wrote. “Sigh, I tried with all my heart to play for my people. I’m just not good anymore. Thank you for all the support during my attempt.”