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.
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.
Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Tweaks ankle, scratched Friday
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
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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.
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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Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Back tightness in rehab game
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Votto (ankle) is being held out of games with Single-A Dunedin due to lower-back tightness, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
It's considered minor, as the Blue Jays anticipate Votto returning to game action later this week. The veteran first baseman recently returned to games following a long absence with a sprained ankle. Votto should be ready to move up to Triple-A Buffalo soon if he can avoid more setbacks.
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Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Shifting rehab to Single-A
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Votto (ankle) is scheduled to start at first base and bat second in a rehab game with Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday.
Votto will move his rehab assignment one rung up on the minor-league ladder after he made a pair of starts in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Saturday and Tuesday, going 0-for-4 with a walk between those contests. The veteran first baseman will likely stick around with Dunedin for at least a few contests to stockpile at-bats as he looks to regain form at the plate after being shut down since mid-March with a right ankle sprain. Votto currently resides on Triple-A Buffalo's 7-day injured list and will eventually rejoin the organization's top affiliate once the Blue Jays' brass is convinced he's ready for the assignment.
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Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Cleared to play in games
Rotowire
Votto (ankle) was transferred to the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Monday to begin a rehab assignment, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Votto is finally ready to play in games following a long recovery from a severe right ankle sprain which he suffered back in mid-March. He remains on Triple-A Buffalo's 7-day injured list and will rejoin the Blue Jays' top affiliate once Toronto determines he's ready to do so. The 40-year-old could eventually become an option for the big club at first base and/or designated hitter, but he's on a minor-league contract and isn't guaranteed anything.
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Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Nearing game action
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Votto (ankle) has made good progress recently and is getting close to playing in games, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Votto has remained at extended spring training since spraining his right ankle back in mid-March and it sounds like he's finally turned a corner in his recovery. Once cleared, he'll likely participate in some games with the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate before eventually being assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Votto is on a minor-league contract with Toronto, and he's likely several weeks away from being in consideration for a promotion to the majors.
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Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Still no timetable for game action
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Votto (ankle) continues to take live at-bats and take part in a running progression, but he's still without a timetable for playing in games, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Votto suffered a severe right ankle sprain during a spring training game in mid-March, when he stepped on a bat in the dugout. While he's been performing baseball activities for several weeks now, it's not clear when he might be assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.
