Full Breakdown
Joey Votto’s Global Post-Retirement Pursuits: Surfing, Sushi, and Yoga
5/24/2026, 1:24:51 PM
Core Event: From the Diamond to International Adventures
Former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto officially retired from Major League Baseball in August 2024 after a brief attempt to return with a minor-league contract from the Toronto Blue Jays, which was curtailed by an ankle injury after 15 games. In the months following his retirement, Votto embarked on a series of worldwide activities that include surfing in Ireland, earning accreditation as a sushi chef, and obtaining certification as a yoga instructor.
Background & Context: A 17-Year MLB Career and the Decision to Retire
Votto entered professional baseball as a second-round draft selection in 2002. He made his major-league debut five years later and spent the entirety of his 17-season career with the Cincinnati Reds. The attempt to rejoin the major leagues in early 2024, followed by the injury-limited stint with Toronto, preceded his formal retirement announcement in August of that year.
Global Travels and New Certifications
According to Votto’s discussion on the *Rates and Barrels* podcast, his post-retirement itinerary has taken him to Japan, Poland, Jordan, Egypt, Spain, and Mexico. While traveling, he pursued three distinct pursuits: surfing on the Irish coast, completing the requirements to become an accredited sushi chef, and achieving certification as a yoga instructor. The source does not specify the institutions that granted the sushi-chef accreditation or the yoga certification.
Data & Statistics: Quantifying Votto’s Baseball Tenure
- Drafted: 2nd round, 2002 MLB Draft
- MLB debut: 2007 (five years after being drafted)
- Total MLB seasons: 17, all with the Cincinnati Reds
- Minor-league appearance in 2024: 15 games before injury
These figures provide a quantitative framework for understanding the length and continuity of Votto’s professional baseball career prior to his retirement.
Official Statements & Responses
During his appearance on the *Rates and Barrels* podcast, Votto described his post-retirement life as “busier now than he ever was during his 17-year MLB career.” He outlined his recent activities—surfing in Ireland, sushi-chef accreditation, and yoga-instructor certification—and noted that these experiences occurred within a two-year span after his August 2024 retirement. The statements reflect his personal perspective on the transition from professional sport to global exploration.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The source does not provide exact dates for each travel destination or certification, nor does it identify the accrediting bodies for the sushi-chef and yoga qualifications. Additionally, there is no information on the depth of his surfing practice (e.g., competitive level) or any future professional intentions beyond the activities already described.
What’s Next: Anticipated Continuation of Activities
Votto’s future plans were not detailed in the source material. The absence of explicit statements about upcoming projects or further certifications leaves open the possibility of continued travel and skill development, but no concrete timeline or objectives are reported.
