Player News

• Joey Votto: Announces retirement

  08/21/2024 • By RotoWire

  Votto announced his retirement from professional baseball Wednesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Votto signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays in March and had been hopeful to return to the majors this season, but his comeback attempt will now end after he posted a .489 OPS across 51 plate appearances with Triple-A Buffalo. The six-time All-Star spent 17 seasons in the big leagues with the Reds, slashing .294/.409/.511 with 356 home runs and 1,144 RBI over his career. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 2010.

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• Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Shakes off ankle injury

  08/04/2024 • By RotoWire

  Votto (ankle) returned to action for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and has gone 2-for-5 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and three runs in three games since rejoining the club. Though Buffalo never placed Votto on its 7-day injured list, Votto had been out of action for three weeks before he was deployed as a pinch hitter Friday against Worcester. He served as a pinch hitter again Saturday, then started at designated hitter Sunday. Votto should eventually resume playing first base for Buffalo and will look to perform well enough at the plate to receive consideration for a promotion to Toronto. Though the 40-year-old first baseman wouldn't seem to be a fit on the roster for a non-contending Blue Jays squad, the organization may still be eager to give the Ontario native a final sendoff in his hometown before a possible retirement this offseason.

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• Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Tweaks ankle, scratched Friday

  07/19/2024 • By RotoWire

  Votto was removed from Triple-A Buffalo's lineup for Friday's game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after injuring his ankle during pre-game warmups, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. Votto was set to make his debut with Buffalo on Friday after he was reinstated from the 7-day injured list, but he suffered a setback in warmups and he will be evaluated Saturday. Over his 16 rehab outings, Votto went 8-for-43 with three doubles, one home run and eight RBI between Single-A Dunedin and the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

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• Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Making debut for Triple-A club

  07/19/2024 • By RotoWire

  Triple-A Buffalo reinstated Votto (ankle) from its 7-day injured list ahead of Friday's game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Votto had participated in 16 rehab contests between Single-A Dunedin and the rookie-level Florida Complex League, going 8-for-43 with one home run and a 14:8 K:BB in 53 plate appearances. He seems to be feeling fine physically at this point, but Toronto would surely like to see better results from Votto at Triple-A before it considers adding him to the major-league roster.

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• Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Resumes rehab assignment

  07/01/2024 • By RotoWire

  Votto (ankle/back) resumed his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday before shifting his assignment to Single-A Dunedin later in the week and going 0-for-6 with a strikeout in his first two games in the Florida State League. After experiencing lower-back tightness coming out of his third rehab game in the FCL on June 19, Votto was held out of action for a little less than a week before returning to the lineup. Votto will continue to stockpile at-bats in the lower levels of the minors before eventually making his way to Triple-A Buffalo and getting activated from the affiliate's 7-day injured list. If Votto performs well at Buffalo, he could be in the mix for a promotion to Toronto's big-league roster at some point in the second half of the season.

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