Joey Votto, the longtime first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, has officially announced his retirement. The Canadian-born Votto had signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this offseason, but an ankle injury sidelined him for much of the year. His performance in the minors, where he posted a .165/.298/.271 slash line over 104 plate appearances mostly at the AA and AAA levels, ultimately led him to conclude that it was time to hang up his cleats.
Votto’s entire Major League career was spent with the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in September 2007, impressing with a .321/.360/.548 slash line in 89 plate appearances. From that point onward, Votto became the Reds’ regular first baseman and a cornerstone of the team.
In 2008, Votto finished as the runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year, trailing only Cubs catcher Geovany Soto. Throughout his career, Votto was a consistent presence in MVP discussions, appearing on MVP ballots nine times. He won the prestigious award in 2010 after an outstanding season where he slashed .324/.424/.600, and he came close again in 2017, finishing second to Giancarlo Stanton with a .320/.454/.578 slash line. Votto led the league in walks five times, on-base percentage (OBP) seven times, slugging percentage once, and OPS twice.
Had Votto retired after the 2021 season, he would have been celebrated as a rare “3/4/5” hitter—boasting a .300 average, .400 OBP, and .500 slugging percentage. Despite injury-plagued seasons in 2022 and 2023, he still ended his career with an impressive .294/.409/.511 slash line, 2,135 hits, and 356 home runs.
Votto’s career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 64.5 ranks 99th all-time among position players and 14th among first basemen, nestled between Miguel Cabrera and Willie McCovey. His WAR7—the sum of his seven best seasons—of 46.9 is 9th all-time among first basemen, with only Lou Gehrig, Albert Pujols, Jimmie Foxx, Jeff Bagwell, and Johnny Mize ahead of him from the live-ball era.
Although Votto’s counting stats were impacted by injuries and other factors, limiting him to 14 full seasons as a regular player from 2008 to 2021, he remains a strong Hall of Fame candidate. Among eligible first basemen within 10 WAR of Votto, only Keith Hernandez (60.3 WAR), John Olerud (58.2), and Will Clark (56.5) are not enshrined, with none of them being tainted by PED allegations.
Joey Votto’s career was marked by consistent excellence, leadership, and a deep connection with the city of Cincinnati. His impact on the game will be remembered long after his final at-bat.
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