The former MLB MVP who is now a certified yoga instructor and sushi chef

A recent report from The Athletic says Votto has earned an official sushi chef accreditation from the government of Japan, adding a serious culinary achievement to his post-playing life. He also became a certified yoga instructor in Cadiz, Spain, showing the same curiosity and discipline that once defined his work at the plate. His travels have stretched far beyond classrooms and kitchens. Votto has surfed off the coast of Ireland, watched cricket in Dubai and moved through Egypt on “a random bus.” He has also travelled by tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka, choosing experiences that feel far removed from the controlled world of Major League Baseball.

That appears to be the point. Votto has spoken about how stepping into unfamiliar places has changed his sense of self. He said to The Athetic: “I think exposing yourself to the world and realizing how so few people care [about his MLB career]… I think it helped my well-being.” Votto is not simply collecting stories; he is building a second act around movement, humility and discovery, proving that even after an elite career, there are still new ways to learn.