This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CINCINNATI -- What's next for Joey Votto?
For 17 seasons with the Reds, Votto put a lot of thought into just about everything he did on the field and in his preparation to play.
Now that the first baseman has retired, which he announced on Wednesday, the soon-to-be 41-year-old did not really have a plan mapped out.
“I’m not thinking about that," Votto said during his surprise ballpark visit to Toronto's Rogers Centre on Wednesday night. "I probably should think about what’s next.
"I’d like to go for a walk in the morning. Wake up early at like 7 or 8 o’clock. Go to the library, read for a bit. Maybe take a yoga class. Really, I have no plans yet."
Actually, Votto has one plan. In October, he will resume taking classes. He will be an online college student at Arizona State University and a Spanish major.
"That’s the only thing. And maybe some travel, we’ll see," he said.
Here are some post-retirement options that could be perfect for Votto once he's ready to take on whatever is next.
Reds ambassador
Votto is a modern-day rarity to have played 17 seasons with one Major League club. His 2,056 games for Cincinnati are ranked fifth all time. Among the names ahead of him: only-Reds Johnny Bench (fourth, 2,158) and Barry Larkin (third, 2,180). Both Bench and Larkin remain affiliated with the team in various ways.
The Reds could and should find a way to keep Votto tied to the organization in retirement. At a minimum, they need to have him back to be formally honored with a "Joey Votto Day." Beyond that, he could represent the franchise in all sorts of ways. He could continue his stellar work in the community with the Reds Community Fund and with kids at the MLB Youth Academy.
As he recovered from left shoulder surgery late in the 2022 season, we got a glimpse of what the beloved Votto could do. Remember when he put on a vintage Larkin jersey and mingled among the crowd at Great American Ball Park?
Coaching/managing
Like Scott Rolen did for Votto to influence him as a player, Votto paid it forward with the next wave. Last year, he talked with Will Benson and helped him break out of a slump. He often spent time with then-rookie Elly De La Cruz. And in a classy move while still rehabbing his own shoulder at Spring Training, Votto worked with future replacement Christian Encarnacion-Strand to get better defensively at first base.
The grind of full-time coaching or diving into the pressure cooker of managing seems less likely, since Votto has so many interests outside of baseball. But Votto's knowledge of baseball -- namely hitting -- is a valuable resource, and it would only help future players.
If the Reds can keep Votto affiliated with the club, he could always dip his toes into the coaching waters and work as a guest instructor in Spring Training.
Broadcasting
While he was out of action in 2022, we also got a sample of Votto's skills on TV and radio as a guest analyst on Bally Sports Ohio and on radio for the team's broadcasts. His insights were (no surprise) thoughtful, interesting and informative.
Votto once did an inning with ESPN while playing first base during a game and it was a big hit.
If he didn't want to do the daily grind of local broadcast work, I have to imagine the platform and flexibility of national work would be enticing to Votto. Fox Sports, ESPN and Turner all have national broadcasts and studio shows. MLB Network has multiple player analysts -- including Sean Casey -- working from its studio. Votto's hometown of Toronto has Rogers Sportsnet, which broadcasts Blue Jays games across all of Canada. I have little doubt any big TV network will want to reach out to him.
Something different entirely
Votto has talked about driving a school bus, and of course, he famously made a great social media video of him doing just that. (If he has your route, kids, don't distract the driver and behave.)
That hints to it always being possible that Votto will simply find something that appeals to his non-baseball interests. He could even do what Jules from "Pulp Fiction" did when he was ready to leave his career behind -- walk from place to place, meet people, get in adventures … like Caine from "Kung Fu."
Whatever Votto chooses to do, it will likely be interesting.