Joey Votto announces retirement, his dream of playing for Blue Jays never realized: 'I'm done'

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The thought of Joey Votto donning a Blue Jays jersey with his former team providing the opposition was almost too good to believe.

When the Cincinnati Reds came to town Monday to begin a three-game series at the Rogers Centre, many held out hope that the Etobicoke native would finally be called up from the minors.

Votto never did appear for any of the three Reds games, and he won’t for any team following his sudden, but perhaps expected retirement.

He made the announcement just moments before Wednesday night’s first pitch.

While not as fitting as a return against the only big-league team Votto has known, in some ways it did seem appropriate because Cincinnati was in town.

Even if the Reds weren’t about to close out their stay in Toronto, news of Votto’s retirement would have generated the attention it deserved.

“That’s it. I’m done. I am officially retired from baseball,” Votto announced via his Instagram.

Votto’s entire MLB career was with the Reds, a distinguished run of 17 seasons.

Next stop will be Cooperstown, as baseball’s hallowed halls will one day feature the slugging first baseman.

Votto, 40, made the announcement during a nine-second video shot at Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, home of the Jays’ triple-A affiliate, where he had been playing this season. He then drove to Rogers Centre to say goodbye to his former Reds teammates.

Whether or not one cares to look at it as a plea for an opportunity to play for his hometown team, the Jays did answer Votto’s call and signed him to a minor-league contract prior to the start of the 2024 season.

Almost from the very beginning, Votto seemed to be cursed, injuring his ankle during his first spring training game — slipping on a bat in the dugout after hitting the only homer he would have wearing a Jays uniform. He never fully recovered and would hit additional road blocks in the ensuing months, including a re-injuring of the ankle in July.

In the end, it was simply not meant to be, though he did give it a shot.

In terms of merit, a possible callup was not warranted. With the Bisons, Votto was hitting .143 with one homer and four RBIs in 15 games. But the storyline, even if it was the stuff of fantasy, was too appealing.

“Toronto + Canada, I wanted to play in front of you. Sigh. I tried with all my heart to play for my people. I’m just not good anymore,” he wrote on Instagram.

When Votto reached baseball’s elite level, he was among the game’s best. With the Reds, he was a six-time all-star and was named NL MVP in 2010. He wraps up his career playing 2,056 games, batting .294 with 356 home runs, 1,144 RBIs and even 80 stolen bases. Votto also won a National League Gold Glove in 2011 and captured the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year in ’17.

He did, also, suit up for Team Canada at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, which was highlighted by his four-hit game — including a home run — against the United States.

The memories of Votto are forever etched. Sadly, none will be part of Blue Jays lore.

Two nights ago in the Buffalo area, he met with his family over dinner. He knew then his comeback bid was going to end this week.

“I just decided, you’ve played long enough you can interpret what’s going on,” Votto said at Rogers Centre. “And I was awful. I was awful down there.

“The trend was not fast enough, and I didn’t feel at any point in time like I was anywhere near Major League ready.”

Votto revealed he was asked before his final Bisons game on Wednesday if he was available to pinch hit. He turned down the possible opportunity.

“I’m passing on professional at-bats,” he said. “That’s enough. That’s enough.”

The retirement decision caught the Blue Jays off guard.

Manager John Schneider found out just before his team took to the field and swiftly built a 6-0 lead on homers from George Springer, Spencer Horwitz and Ernie Clement.

“Our Triple-A hitting coach Ryan Long was here on Monday, and we talked about 1/8Votto3/8, and he was still working his ass off,” Schneider said.

“What a unique player, a wonderful person. And he’s been a great teammate his entire career. It was cool to get to know him a little bit.”

Votto doesn’t have any immediate plans with the retirement decision so fresh.

He has been taking online university courses, working toward a Bachelor of Spanish degree. He plans to resume his studies this fall.

But now it appears time for him to reminisce about his career.

“I saw (Canadian) Scott Thorman today (in Buffalo), who works with the Kansas City Royals,” Votto said. “He was the guy as a high schooler who was a first-round pick. I dreamed of being him, signed for some money.

“He was an Atlanta Brave. He was trending in the right professional direction. On the last day of my career, the guy I wanted to be, I see him.

“I am just so humbled by where this game has taken me.”

— With files from CP