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Votto, 40, had been attempting to make a
big-league comeback through the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league
system. He hit just .165 with a .569 on-base-plus-slugging
percentage in 31 games this season across three minor league
levels for his hometown team.
"Toronto + Canada, I wanted to play in front of you. Sigh, I
tried with all my heart to play for my people," Votto wrote.
"I'm just not good anymore. Thank you for all the support during
my attempt."
Votto signed a minor league contract with Toronto in March after
finishing out a 12-year, $251.5 million deal with Cincinnati
last year.
The left-handed-hitting Votto batted .294 with 356 home runs,
1,144 RBIs and a .920 OPS over 2,056 games for the Reds after
being picked in the second round of the 2002 draft.
He made his major league debut in 2007 and was named National
League MVP in 2010, one of two seasons in which Cincinnati won
the NL Central during Votto's tenure. Votto won his lone Gold
Glove Award in 2011.
"Cincinnati, I've only played for you. I love you," Votto wrote.
Votto also thanked family members, fans, former teammates and
coaches in his post, which featured a short video of Votto
outside the stadium of the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto's Triple-A
affiliate. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, a walk and a run
for Buffalo on Tuesday.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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