The Toronto Blue Jays are under fire after their classless decision not to call up Joey Votto for their series against the Cincinnati Reds, his longtime team, before the veteran’s impending retirement. The move has been widely criticized as a missed opportunity to honour one of Canada’s greatest baseball players in front of his hometown crowd.
Votto, a Toronto native who spent 16 seasons with the Reds, was expected by many to be given the chance to take the field one last time against the team where he built a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Instead, the Blue Jays kept the 40-year-old in Triple-A, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the organization’s judgment.
The Blue Jays, currently dead-last in the AL East and 12 games out of a wild card spot, would have risked little in putting Votto into the lineup, especially given the number of players currently on the roster hitting below the Mendoza Line—a batting average below .200. Critics argue that the team could have found a way to give Votto a final curtain call without jeopardizing their non-existent postseason hopes.
Votto, ever the professional, has remained silent on the issue, but the disappointment is palpable among his supporters. As his storied career draws to a close, many are left lamenting what could have been a fitting farewell to a player who has given so much to the game.
Joey Votto has announced his retirement via his Instagram after 17 seasons, six All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and 2010 NL MVP honors. 👏 pic.twitter.com/jFyhqIXLL8
— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2024
We love you too, Joey ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ym28C10HXm
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 22, 2024
