Joey Votto issues apology after being ejected in what could be his final game

The Cincinnati Reds had to finish the final game of the 2023 season without Joey Votto. The former MVP was ejected in between the first and second inning of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Home plate umpire Shane Livensparger got trigger happy after Votto was barking at him from the Reds' dugout. Livensparger heard enough and ejected Votto from he game.

Votto was reportedly questioning a strike call during his first at-bat in which Livensparger called a strike on a ball that was clearly inside. Sunday may very well have been the last time baseball fans see Votto in a Reds uniform.

Joey Votto issues apology after being ejected in what could be his final game

But, after reflecting on his ejection, Joey Votto issued a statement via social media. Votto's post read, "I cannot holler at the umpire from our teams bench. He was completely justified in ejecting me."

Votto also took a moment to apologize to the fans who may have been at the game or tuning in to see him play. "For those that wanted to see me play today, I am sorry," Votto wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Votto is no stranger to being ejected. But it's a shame that his career, at least a member of the Cincinnati Reds, is likely to come to an end after being ejected.

However, if there was ever a player who knows the strike zone better than the umpire behind the plate, it's Joey Votto. The Cincinnati Reds maintain a $20-million club-option for Votto, but are unlikely to exercise it.

Instead, they're likely to pay the $7-million buyout, which will, in affect, make Votto a free agent for the first time in his career. There is a chance that Votto and the Reds could come to terms on a new deal during the offseason.

However, this could very well be Joey Votto's final game in Major League Baseball altogether. At 40 years old, there's a very good chance that the future Hall of Famer could hang up his cleats after this season.