Longtime Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Wednesday. The announcement came via the Twitter account of Seager's wife Julie.
The statement reads in full:
"Today I'm announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball. Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for following me throughout my career. It's been a wonderful ride but I am unbelievably excited for the next chapter of my life."
A note from my husband. pic.twitter.com/Zl5peB3vR2
— Julie Seager (@JulieSeager15) December 29, 2021
Seager, 34, had been a free agent this offseason after 11 MLB seasons with Seattle.
Originally a third-round choice out of UNC-Chapel Hill in 2009, Seager made his big-league debut with the Mariners in 2011. Over the next decade-plus, Seager batted .251/.321/.442 (112 OPS+) with 1,395 hits; 242 home runs; and a WAR of 36.9. A standout fielder at the hot corner, Seager won a Gold Glove in 2014. That same year, he also made his first and only All-Star appearance.
He received a standing ovation in Seattle during what turned out to be his final MLB game in October:
Kyle Seager pulled out of the game to get a standing ovation from the crowd as soon as the Red Sox game goes final pic.twitter.com/in8RxVKw8e
— Kelly Ward (@kellynnward) October 3, 2021
Seager is coming off a 2021 season in which he hit a career-best 35 home runs. That power from the left side plus his ability to continue manning third base all suggest he can still be a useful contributor.
However, rather than linger on the free-agent market during the owner lockout, Seager has opted to step away. He does so as a beloved figure in Seattle and the rare tenured veteran who spent his entire professional career with one organization.
Kyle's younger brother, Corey, was also a free agent this winter. Corey Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers prior to the owner-imposed lockout.
