Tag: retirement

Former Red Sox outfield prospect Marcus Wilson announces retirement

Former Red Sox outfield prospect Marcus Wilson took to social media on Sunday to announce his retirement from professional baseball.

As part of a heartfelt Instagram post, Wilson gave “a special thanks to a select few from the Red Sox” as well as his coaches from the Diamondbacks and Mariners organizations. He also showed gratitude towards his mother, wife, and daughter before indicating that he was going to shift his focus towards a career in mixed martial arts.

“I’ve had a lot of time to digest everything that’s been going on and I feel good about my decision so going forward if you ever wanna hit me up don’t be weird about it I’m really fine lol!” Wilson wrote. “I’m excited for my new journey I’m going to be taking up martial arts and ever since 2020. I’ve been extremely fascinated with the sport and finally excited to get to do martial arts! Peace and love everybody. Thank you.”

Wilson, 27, was originally selected by the Diamondbacks with the 69th overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif. The Los Angeles-area native forwent his commitment to Arizona State University by signing with the club for $1 million that summer.

As he continued to climb up the minor-league ladder, Wilson established himself as one of the better outfield prospects in Arizona’s farm system. He was then traded by the Diamondbacks to the Red Sox for catcher Blake Swihart in April 2019.

Wilson bounced between then-High-A Salem and Double-A Portland in his first season as a member of the Red Sox organization, but he ended the year on a strong note with the Sea Dogs and was added to Boston’s 40-man roster that November in order to receive protection from the Rule 5 Draft.

Unfortunately, Wilson did not play any affiliated ball in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the minor-league season. He instead spent the final three or so weeks of the 2020 campaign at the Sox’ alternate training site in Pawtucket and then made the jump to Triple-A Worcester the following spring.

In his first stint with the WooSox, Wilson batted .242/.370/.452 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs over 64 games (265 plate appearances). Despite putting up those solid numbers, the right-handed hitting infielder was designated for assignment by the Red Sox in the wake of the July trade deadline. He was then claimed off waivers by the Mariners, but spent the rest of the 2021 season with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma before yet again losing his spot on a 40-man roster that October.

Wilson remained with the Mariners through the winter and returned to Tacoma for the start of the 2022 season. After clubbing 12 homers and posting an .806 OPS in 59 games (238 plate appearances) for the Rainiers, Wilson earned his first big-league call-up in late June. He made his major-league debut against the Orioles at T-Mobile Park on June 29 and drew a walk in his first career plate appearance after pinch-hitting for Sam Haggerty in the eighth inning of a 9-3 win.

Wilson appeared in a total of three games for the Mariners, going 1-for-5 with a single, a run scored, that one walk, and four strikeouts while seeing playing time in both right and center field. He was then sent back down to Tacoma in early July before being designated for assignment and outrighted off Seattle’s 40-man roster, which cleared the way for him to elect free agency at the end of the year.

Last February, Wilson returned to the Red Sox on a minor-league contract for the 2023 season. Serving as upper-level outfield depth, Wilson was limited to just 37 games with the WooSox and spent much of the first half of the year on the development list before being released. He had not signed with another team prior to announcing that he was hanging up the cleats for good on Sunday.

All told, Wilson slashed .248/.351/.406 with 141 doubles, 21 triples, 71 home runs, 327 RBIs, 394 runs scored, 114 stolen bases, 380 walks, and 850 strikeouts while logging starts at all three outfeed spots in 729 career minor-league games (2,941 plate appearances). That includes parts of four seasons (2019-2021, 2023) with the Red Sox in which he peaked as the No. 20 prospect in the system in Oct. 2019, per SoxProspects.com rankings history.

(Picture of Marcus Wilson: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Former Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland announces retirement, joins team as guest instructor at spring training

Former Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland has officially announced his retirement from baseball, he told WEEI’s Rob Bradford on Tuesday.

“I’m retired,” Moreland said. “There you go. I’m done. I’m done playing. I’ve enjoyed the family life too much in the last year and a half. Being there for my kids. It got to the point where they were away from me during the season and in school. I wanted to be there for them, and be around the family more.”

Moreland, 37, spent parts of four seasons (2017-2020) with the Red Sox after originally signing with the club as a free agent in November 2016. Coming off a Gold Glove Award-winning campaign with Texas, Moreland quickly endeared himself to fans in Boston and earned the nickname “Mitchy Two Bags” thanks to his propensity for hitting doubles.

After a solid debut season with the Red Sox, Moreland was named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2018. He then helped Boston win the World Series that October, most notably hitting a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 4 against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Red Sox went on win that game by a final score of 9-6 and ultimately won the series in five games.

All told, Moreland batted .251/.332/.471 with 78 doubles, 64 home runs, 226 RBIs, and 321 runs scored in 386 games (1,449 plate appearances) with the Red Sox. The left-handed hitter was dealt to the Padres at the 2020 trade deadline for prospects Hudson Potts and Jeisson Rosario. He then spent the 2021 season with the Athletics, though he was limited to just 81 games in Oakland due to three separate stints on the injured list.

Moreland did not play at all in 2022 and had yet to sign with a team for the 2023 season, which made his retirement more of a formality than anything. That being said, the Mississippi State product hangs up his cleats after 12 big-league seasons in which he slashed .251/.318/.446 with 186 homers and 618 RBIs in 1,260 career games (4,536 plate appearances) between the Rangers, Red Sox, Padres, and Athletics.

Though his playing days may now be behind him, Moreland has been at Red Sox camp in Fort Myers this week serving as a guest instructor, joining other former players like David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Mike Lowell in doing so. The opportunity was presented to him by chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and manager Alex Cora.

“I had a couple conversations with AC, Chaim in the offseason. It’s kind of been in the works,” said Moreland. “They asked me if I would be interested in coming into camp for a few days, being around the guys, and just kind of take it in and see this side of it a little bit too. I thought it was a great opportunity. I obviously loved my time here, loved the group. It was great to see everybody. I jumped on the opportunity, and happy to be here.

“I knew I was going to like it,” he added. “I was excited about the opportunity to come down and just to be around the guys, see some of the familiar faces that I hadn’t seen in a while. Just catch up, really. So I’ve talked to a few of the guys, met some new people, and just trying to enjoy my time while I’m here.”

Moreland becomes the latest member of the 2018 Red Sox to retire, joining the likes of Pedroia, Rick Porcello, Brock Holt, Steve Pearce, Eduardo Nunez, Ian Kinsler, and David Price. Only three players from that historically dominant team (Chris Sale, Ryan Brasier, and Rafael Devers) are still with Boston. Moreland will have the chance to reconnect with each of them and make new connections while he is at camp.

“I’m here strictly to hang out with the guys, and if I can help someone along the way, and if anybody has any questions for me, I’d obviously be an open book for them,” he said. “Just catch up with old teammates and staff, and help any way I can.”

(Picture of Mitch Moreland: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox first baseman Josh Ockimey retires from baseball, joins organization’s pro scouting department

Former Red Sox minor-leaguer Josh Ockimey has retired from baseball, per the first baseman’s Instagram account.

“f there was one word that could summarize this entire message it would be THANKFUL!” Ockimey wrote on Tuesday. “Throughout this past offseason, I’ve made the decision to step away and retire from the sport I love dearly and played for the majority of my life. I am immensely grateful for everyone who has came into my life throughout this journey. To my family who supported and believed in me from my first little league at bat, to my last professional at bat. To every coach who’s helped me in my journey, and every teammate who I have been truly blessed to have played with and have turned life long friends, there is no way I can fully express how much it means to me to have had your mentorship, love, support, guidance and friendship.

“This game has given me so much, and I am very thankful for every moment!” he continued. “At last, a personal thank you to the Red Sox and my hometown team, the Phillies, for allowing me to not only start, but also live my dream through my career. Excited to see what this next chapter with @maryhribar in life brings us!”

Ockimey, 27, was originally selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2014 amateur draft out of Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania native spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with Boston, topping out as the No. 10 prospect in the organization in 2017, per Baseball America’s rankings.

Known for his power, Ockimey spent the entirety of the 2021 campaign with Triple-A Worcester. The left-handed hitting slugger batted .225/.358/.416 with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, 45 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 62 walks, and 117 strikeouts over 98 games (360 plate appearances) for the WooSox. He also became a fan favorite at Polar Park and was named the first-ever recipient of the club’s “Heart of the Heart” award for community service before becoming a free agent that November.

In the midst of the MLB lockout, Ockimey inked a minor-league deal with his hometown Phillies last March. He wound up splitting the 2022 campaign between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley and slashed .230/367/.423 with 21 doubles, two triples, 17 homers, 55 RBIs, 63 runs scored, three stolen bases, 84 walks, and 134 strikeouts in 118 games (483 plate appearances) between the two affiliates.

All told, Ockimey finishes his professional career as a lifetime .236/.361/.427 hitter with 113 home runs and 412 runs driven in across 795 games (3,196 plate appearances) spanning six different minor-league levels. The only position the 6-foot-1, 238-pounder played on the field was first base.

While his playing days may now be behind him, Ockimey is not done with baseball. As stated in his Instagram bio, he has returned to the Red Sox organization as an associate professional scout. Other former Boston minor-leaguers, such as Kyri Washington and Josh Tobias, have followed a similar path in recent years.

(Picture of Josh Ockimey: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox infielder Travis Shaw announces retirement from baseball

Former Red Sox infielder Travis Shaw is calling it a career. The 32-year-old took to Twitter on Monday evening to officially announce his retirement from baseball.

“For the last eight years, I’ve been blessed with to live my childhood dreams of playing Major League Baseball,” Shaw wrote. “But today, that dream comes to an end! 12 years ago, being a 9th-round pick, I would never have imagined what this game provided me. The memories will last a lifetime. To everyone that made an impact on my career (the list is endlessly long), I will forever be indebted to you! As this chapter closes, the only two words that come to mind is THANK YOU!”

The son of longtime reliever Jeff Shaw, Travis was originally selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Kent State. While the Ohio native was not heralded as a premier prospect, he gradually worked his way through Boston’s farm system and made his major-league debut at the age of 25 in May 2015.

Shaw proceeded to put together a solid rookie campaign, as he batted .270/.327/.487 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs, and 36 RBIs in his first 65 games (248 plate appearances) with the Red Sox. While being dubbed “The Mayor of Ding Dong City” by fans, Shaw slashed .242/.306/.421 with 34 doubles, 16 home runs, and 71 RBIs in 145 games (530 plate appearances) the following year.

That September, however, there was a falling out of sorts between Shaw and then-Red Sox manager John Farrell following the promotion of top prospect Yoan Moncada, who cut into Shaw’s playing time. Three months later, Shaw and two others were traded to the Brewers in exchange for reliever Tyler Thornburg.

Thornburg was marred by injuries and appeared in just 41 games in three seasons with the Red Sox. Shaw, on the other, hand broke out in Milwaukee by clubbing 31 homer runs in 2017 and putting up a career-best 32-homer campaign in 2018 as the Brewers’ everyday third baseman.

Beginning in 2019, though, Shaw’s production began to dip. The left-handed hitter was limited to just 86 games due in part to a right wrist strain and struggled to the tune of a .157/.281/.270 slash line before being non-tendered by Milwaukee that December.

After spending the COVID-shortened 2020 season with the Blue Jays, Shaw returned to the Brewers in 2021. He got off to another tough start and was placed on release waivers that August. The Red Sox then claimed Shaw, who provided the club with a bit of a spark off the bench. He most notably hit a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning of an 8-4 win over the Rangers on Aug. 23.

Shaw got into five games during Boston’s run to the American League Championship Series that October. He spent four months on the open market before returning to the Red Sox on a minor-league deal last March and making the Opening Day roster out of spring training.

To start the 2022 season, Shaw went 0-for-19 with zero walks and seven strikeouts in his first seven games. He was designated for assignment on April 29 and went unclaimed on waivers, thus becoming a free agent again. After not landing with another team last year, Shaw has ultimately decided to hang up his cleats.

All told, Shaw was a lifetime .237/.319/437 hitter with 127 doubles, three triples, 114 home runs, 366 RBIs, 310 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 733 career games (2,690 plate appearances) between the Red Sox, Brewers, and Blue Jays. He saw playing time at first base, second base, third base, and left field as part of an eight-year tenure in the big-leagues.

(Picture of Travis Shaw: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Falmouth native Steve Cishek announces retirement from baseball

East Falmouth, Mass. native Steve Cishek has officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Cishek, who spent this past season with the Nationals, made the announcement in a recent conversation with Rich Maclone of The Enterprise News. He also took to Instagram to reflect on his time in pro ball earlier Friday evening.

“It’s time,” Cishek told Maclone. “It’s gotten harder for me to bounce back game-to-game. The ball wasn’t coming out as crisp as before, and it felt like I had to pitch differently. I know I’ll get the bug and want to get back out there, but I don’t think I’m pulling a Tom Brady.”

Cishek, now 36, attended Falmouth High School and was originally selected by the Marlins in the fifth round of the 2007 amateur draft out of Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City, Tenn.). The sidewinding right-hander broke in with Miami in 2010 and led the club in saves in back-to-back years (2013 and 2014) before being traded to the Cardinals in July 2015.

After a brief stint in St. Louis, Cishek signed a two-year deal with the Mariners. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound reliever registered 25 saves in his first season with Seattle but was dealt to the Rays ahead of the 2017 trade deadline. An impressive stint with Tampa Bay (1.06 ERA in 26 outings) netted Cishek a two-year deal with the Cubs that December.

Cishek saw the only postseason action of his career while with the Cubs, as he made an appearance out of the bullpen in the 2018 National League Wild Card Game against the Rockies at Wrigley Field. He got the only batter he faced to ground into an inning-ending double play in a game that Chicago ultimately lost, 1-0, in 13 innings.

At the conclusion of the 2019 campaign, Cishek elected to take his talents to the South Side of the Windy City by signing with the White Sox. He struggled to the tune of a 5.49 ERA in 22 appearances (20 innings) for Chicago during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and was released from his contract that September.

Cishek inked a minors pact with the Astros last February but was cut loose before the end of spring training. He quickly latched on with the Angels and wound up producing a 3.42 ERA in 74 games (66 1/3 innings) for the Halos in 2021.

As a result of last winter’s lockout, Cishek did not sign with the Nationals until March. He posted a 4.21 ERA with 74 strikeouts to 27 walks over 69 appearances (66 1/3 innings) for Washington.

All things considered, Cishek forged a respectable 2.98 ERA and 3.49 FIP to go along with 743 strikeouts across 737 total relief appearances between the Marlins, Cardinals, Mariners, Rays, Cubs, White Sox, Angels, and Nationals over the course of a 13-year major-league career in which he recorded 133 total saves . His 94 saves with Miami rank third all-time in franchise history, while his 737 career appearances are tied for the 87th-most on MLB’s all-time list.

“I don’t have anything to complain about,” Cishek said. “I had a good career. I had a lot of fun and got to play with some amazing teammates.”

Having grown up a Red Sox fan, Cishek said he dreamt of pitching for his hometown team at some point in his career. Despite the two sides being linked to one another in the past, that opportunity never fully materialized. Cishek, did, however make seven career appearances at Fenway Park and held opposing hitters to a .579 OPS against over 6 2/3 cumulative innings of relief.

With his playing days now behind him, Cishek will get the opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Marissa, and their three daughters. He told Maclone that he might get into coaching down the road and plans on getting in touch with the pitching coaches at Cressey Sports Performance in Hudson.

“I never had any issues with my arm,” said Cishek . “I owe a lot to those guys. Cressey is a big reason for that.”

According to Maclone, Cishek has enjoyed the longest playing career of any big-leaguer from Cape Cod to date. We certainly wish him the best in his future endeavors.

(Picture of Steve Cishek: G Fiume/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox Cy Young winner Rick Porcello retires from baseball

Former Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello has officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Porcello, who last pitched in 2020 and turns 34 later this month, made the announcement in a conversation with WEEI’s Rob Bradford at David Ortiz’s charity golf tournament in Florida over the weekend.

“This is Rick Porcello,” he said during an appearance on the Bradfo Sho Podcast. “I want to tell all the listeners I’m retired. Thank you for all the great memories, and thanks for everything.”

The Red Sox originally acquired Porcello from the Tigers in a December 2014 trade that sent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to Detroit. Boston signed the right-hander to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension (that did not take effect until 2016) before the start of the 2015 season.

In his debut season with the Sox, Porcello struggled to the tune of a 4.92 ERA and 4.13 FIP over 28 starts (172 innings). The following year, he broke out by going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 3.40 FIP across 33 starts (223 innings) en route to beating out former teammate Justin Verlander for the 2016 American League Cy Young Award.

After surpassing the 200-inning plateau again in 2017, Porcello played a key role in helping the Red Sox win a World Series in 2018. He led the club in innings pitched during the regular season (191 1/3) and produced a 5.32 ERA in five appearances (three starts) during the postseason.

Porcello’s final season in Boston was one to forget (5.52 ERA in 32 starts). Still, the reliable righty forged a 4.43 ERA and respectable 4.13 FIP to go along with 852 strikeouts to 211 walks over 159 starts (964 innings) in five seasons with the Red Sox. Only three pitchers (Max Scherzer, Verlander, and Zack Greinke) accrued more innings than Porcello during that four-year stretch.

Coming off a disappointing end to his time with the Sox, Porcello inked a one-year, $10 million deal with the Mets in Dec. 2019. As the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the length of the 2020 major-league season to just 60 games, Porcello yielded a 5.64 ERA and 3.33 FIP in 12 starts (59 innings) for New York. He became a free agent again that winter and went unsigned.

“There was a lot of personal stuff I probably don’t want to get into, but I think the bottom line was that I was very fortunate to have the years I had in the big leagues,” Porcello told Bradford. “I think COVID lent some perspective on my life. I wanted to be with my family. I wanted to get back into that type of lifestyle and be around them because every year that you’re gone is another year where your parents are getting older, and your brothers are getting older. I think COVID impacts a lot of people like that.”

When asked if he garnered interest from teams following the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Porcello responded: “There was some interest but I had two (expletive) years back-to-back so not that much interest.”

Originally selected by the Tigers with the 27th overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft out of Seton Hall Preparatory School in New Jersey, Porcello debuted with Detroit less than two years later. He retires having gone 150-125 with a 4.40 ERA and 1,561 strikeouts in 12 seasons between the Tigers, Red Sox, and Mets.

Shortly after Porcello made his announcement official, the Red Sox made sure to wish him well on social media.

“A Cy Young Winner & World Series Champ,” the club’s official Twitter account tweeted on Monday. “Congrats on a great career and best of luck in retirement, Rick.”

(Picture of Rick Porcello: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox fan favorite Brock Holt retires from baseball

Former Red Sox fan favorite Brock Holt is calling it a career. The 34-year-old took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to officially announce his retirement from baseball.

“Damn it that was fun,” Holt wrote. “For parts of 10 years I got to do the only thing I ever wanted to do…play Major League Baseball. Today I hang them up knowing I did the best I could for me, my family, and my teammates. I’m proud of every single second of it. If you were a part of it at any point…know that I love you and I am forever grateful! We had one hell of a ride.”

Originally selected by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2009 amateur draft out of Rice University, Holt first broke in with Pittsburgh towards the tail end of the 2012 season. That December, he and veteran reliever Joel Hanrahan were traded to the Red Sox in exchange for four players, including Mark Melancon.

Holt would spend the next seven seasons in Boston, gradually establishing himself as a versatile and valuable utility player. In 2014, he finished eighth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. The following year, he hit for his first career cycle and made his first career All-Star team.

From 2016-2018, Holt helped the Red Sox win three straight American League East titles. During Boston’s memorable World Series run in 2018, the left-handed hitter hit for the first (and only) cycle in MLB postseason history in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.

In his seven seasons with the Red Sox, Holt played every defensive position besides pitcher and catcher. Off the field, the native Texan was Boston’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award on four separate occasions thanks in part to his work as the Red Sox’ Jimmy Fund captain.

After reaching free agency at the conclusion of the 2019 campaign, Holt signed a one-year deal with the Brewers the following February. But he was limited to just 16 games with Milwaukee during the COVID-shortened season before being designated for assignment that August. He finished the year with the Nationals and made his return to an empty Fenway Park later that summer.

Last February, Holt signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers and made the club’s Opening Day roster out of spring training. While his .579 OPS left much to be desired, he made one appearance as a pitcher against the Athletics on Aug. 7 and threw the slowest pitch to be called a strike in an MLB game since the league began tracking pitches in 2008. It was a 31.1 mph first-pitch eephus that got Josh Harrison looking.

Holt once again became a free agent last winter before inking a minors pact with the Braves in March. The deal included an invite to major-league spring training, but Holt ultimately asked for and was granted his release when he realized he was not going to make the team out of camp.

While Holt was unable to latch on with another club this past season, he did keep himself busy. In June, he paid a visit to Fenway Park to reconnect with some old teammates. In September, he was a part of NESN’s pre- and postgame coverage as a studio analyst while the Red Sox were in Cincinnati for a two-game series against the Reds.

Now that he has officially retired from playing baseball, Holt very well could be in NESN’s future plans for 2023 and beyond. As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the network has previously discussed bringing on Holt as part of its Red Sox coverage moving forward. Whether that coverage comes from the studio or broadcast booth has yet to be determined.

In the meantime, Holt is planning on running the Boston Marathon in 2023. He and his wife, Lakyn, will run to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute next April.

All told, Holt steps away from the game as a veteran of 10 big-league seasons. He collected 621 career hits and clubbed 25 home runs over 751 total games between the Pirates, Red Sox, Brewers, Nationals, Rangers. A career .262 hitter, Holt’s accolades include one All-Star selection and two World Series championships in 2013 and 2018. He was also a well-respected teammate and is still to this day adored by Red Sox fans.

(Picture of Brock Holt: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox outfielder Tate Matheny announces retirement

Former Red Sox minor-league outfielder Tate Matheny announced his retirement from the game of baseball on Monday afternoon. He made the announcement through a heartfelt statement on Instagram.

The son of former major-league catcher and current Royals manager Mike Matheny, Tate was selected by the Sox in the fourth round of the 2015 amateur draft out of Missouri State University. After signing with Boston that summer, the St. Louis native made his pro debut for the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League.

By the end of the 2019 season, Matheny had made it as far as the Triple-A level. The COVID-19 pandemic may have put Minor League Baseball on hold in 2020, but the right-handed hitter was able to work his way back into the fold in 2021.

Between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester last year, Matheny batted .242/.323/.450 (107 wRC+) with 16 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, 36 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 29 walks, and 92 strikeouts over 78 games (269 plate appearances) while seeing time at all three outfield positions. He perhaps most notably robbed Buffalo Bisons shortstop Kevin Smith of a home run when Chris Sale was making a rehab start for the WooSox at Polar Park in late July.

Matheny, who turned 28 earlier this month, became a minor-league free agent at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. It took some time, but he ultimately decided to hang up the cleats after spending all seven years of his professional career with the Red Sox organization.

“I don’t know how to even start this post I just have so much to be thankful for,” Matheny wrote in part on Instagram earlier Monday. “This game has brought me so many gifts. The friends I’ve met, the lessons I’ve learned, have come from this game but it’s time to say goodbye.”

As for what he has planned next, Matheny wrote: ” I am nothing but grateful for what this game has given me! I can’t wait for the next chapter in our lives!”

For his minor-league career, which spanned 562 games and 2,239 plate appearances across five different levels, Matheny slashed .250/.311/.368 to go along with 502 total hits, 104 doubles, 19 triples, 32 homers, 243 RBIs, 285 runs scored, 87 stolen bases, 168 walks, and 604 strikeouts.

In terms of personal accolades, the 6-foot, 180 pounder was named the Red Sox’ Minor League Base Runner of the Year in 2017. He was also recognized by Baseball America as the top defensive outfielder in Boston’s farm system entering the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons.

While it is unclear what Matheny has in store for this next phase of his life, it should be interesting to see if he follows in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in coaching.

Regardless of that, we at Blogging the Red Sox wish Matheny and his family the best moving forward.

(Picture of Tate Matheny: Katie Morrison/MassLive)

Red Sox’ Chaim Bloom on Dustin Pedroia’s retirement press conference: ‘Every young player who comes into our organization should watch this, and just see how he talks about how he got after his craft’

Earlier this week, Dustin Pedroia retired from baseball after 17 years with the Red Sox organization.

The 37-year-old infielder took approximately 37 minutes to field questions from reporters during a Zoom press conference on Monday. And while he said it will likely be a while before he considers a return to baseball in a full-time, non-playing capacity, it appears that his words could already be making an impact on the Red Sox.

That being the case because in his presser, Pedroia spoke of the way he approached everyday of his baseball career from the time he was a young child until the time he was a veteran big-leaguer.

https://youtu.be/eTI85GTSyw0

“There was a reason why I was the first one dressed at 5:30 for a 7 o’clock game,” Pedroia said Monday. “The biggest thing in my mind was, ‘This could be my last game. You don’t know.’ And that’s the way I approached it from Little League on. I played every game like it was my last one. I had the best time playing… I never took one play off from Little League on.”

These words, as well as plenty of others from the former American League MVP resonated with many, including Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. He said as much himself during a virtual town hall event earlier Thursday afternoon.

“If you didn’t get a chance to watch his press conference, go watch it,” Bloom said of Pedroia. “I was watching this and I said, ‘Every young player who comes into our organization should watch this, and just see how he talks about how he got after his craft.’ That’s what we want from every young player. The things he cares about: preparing, working hard, being the best teammate and winning. That’s really what it’s all about.”

As far as the role Bloom and Co. envision for Pedroia in the future, the CBO said that topic was one of the first topics touched upon when the two sides discussed how the four-time All-Star’s career would come to a close.

“It’s still early, and as he said really eloquently in his press conference, he’s going to prioritize family, and especially those three boys, right now,” stated Bloom. “But, as we were navigating this retirement, we started the conversation with him. He knows we want him to be involved. It’s really a question of figuring out what works for him in a way that’s going to be really productive for the organization.”

Now that Pedroia has retired, the Red Sox would obviously like to celebrate the longtime second baseman’s career in ceremonial fashion at Fenway Park this coming season.

The only thing preventing that from happening is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which will presumably place a limit on how many fans can attend Red Sox home games in 2021.

“We will absolutely appropriately celebrate Pedey,” team president and CEO Sam Kennedy said of the club’s plans to honor Pedroia. “But, we have to do it when we have a packed house, or at least have some fans back. He deserves that, and I know fans want to see him.

“I just would echo exactly what Chaim said,” Kennedy continued. “What an incredible role model, spokesperson, someone you want to try and emulate. If you have a young person playing any sport, the work ethic, the commitment, the passion, you can’t teach that. He was an original. Such an important part of everything that’s gone on here the past 20 years. Really looking forward to the day when we can welcome him into the organization in some capacity. But, I don’t think it will be for a while. I think he really wants to be home and be with his family, and he’s privileged to be in a position to do that. So, we’ll be patient.

For now, Pedroia — even without taking on a full-time role within the organization — will still play an important part for Boston moving forward in 2021 and beyond.

Just ask Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

“He’ll be facetiming a lot of people. We know that,” Cora said with a smirk. “He’s still going to be a presence, obviously. With everything that is going on, whenever we get him back at Fenway it’s going to be a fun day. He will always be welcome. Nonstop texting, calling people, helping players out. He’s going to be a big part of what we are trying to accomplish not only this year but the upcoming years… This guy, the last two years, three years, has been very important to the program, and that’s not going to change.”

(Picture of Dustin Pedroia: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Dustin Pedroia wishes he could take field one more time for Red Sox, but has no regrets about how playing career ended

Dustin Pedroia’s last game in a Red Sox uniform came on April 17, 2019 against the Yankees in the Bronx. He went 0-for-1 with a flyout to right field before being removed in the middle of the second inning.

At the time, there likely was no chance Pedroia envisioned that would be the last time he would step on a major-league diamond as a player, but after officially retiring from the game after 17 years as a professional on Monday, it is.

Ideally, it would have been nice to see the 37-year-old icon get a sendoff at Fenway Park at some point this coming season. Something that would have been similar to the one Mets legend David Wright got at Citi Field in 2018.

But, things happen. And Pedroia’s body, or more specifically his left knee, prevented that from happening given the fact that the former American League MVP is no longer in playing shape.

“Obviously, I would love to play,” Pedroia said when speaking with reporters via a Zoom call earlier Monday. “I’d love to put the uniform on and be able to play. You got to understand, [Red Sox fans] are the best fans ever. On a Tuesday night, or whatever, there’s 37,000 people there going crazy. And I got a chance to do that for as long as I did. To do it one more time? Yeah, of course. I would do anything to have that opportunity.

“But, I can’t. I can’t run,” he continued. “That part will always hurt me. I wish I had one more time, but I don’t regret anything. It is what it is, I’m OK. Now I just have to have everything that I’ve learned and built up and all the energy I have, I have to give it to other people now. And that’s how I can help, but I’m OK.”

In regards to the energy he has to give to other people now, Pedroia, who won three World Series titles in his 14-year major-league career with Boston, further elaborated by speaking of what he can offer the next generation of young athletes, which surely includes his three sons, Dylan, Cole and Brooks.

“Now, I just want to be healthy,” said the four-time All-Star. “I want to impact the younger generation with the stories I have and the things that I’ve gone through and the adversity that I’ve dealt with. That’s what I’m supposed to do now, and I look forward to it.”

As far as being celebrated at Fenway Park for being one of the more iconic players in Red Sox history, Pedroia’s time will come. It just won’t come as an active player.

(Picture of Dustin Pedroia: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)