TORONTO — After 12 seasons in the majors, Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said he plans to retire after the 2024 season.
Kiermaier first told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday, before the Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3, he had decided this season would be his last.
“I envisioned that this was going to be my last year and here I am, with the way my body feels and with the state of our team and with what our record is, just been doing a lot of reflecting lately,” Kiermaier said after the game. “I didn’t think (Topkin) was going to ask me that or it would get blown up the way it did, but once again, I got nothing to hide and this will be my last year.”
The 34-year-old, who has struggled at the plate in his second season in Toronto, cited concerns about how he feels physically as well as wanting to spend more time with his family — he’s expecting a third child in December — as some of the reasons behind his decision.
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“My body has been talking to me this year more than ever and having my third kid in December, I do want to be like a full-time dad in a way,” he said. “I’m at peace. I’m happy and it might be a surprise to all you guys rightfully so, but for me, I kind of knew this was going to be my last year.”
Kiermaier spent 10 seasons playing for the Rays before he joined the Blue Jays for the last two seasons. During his career, Kiermaier has established himself as one of the game’s elite defensive center fielders, winning four Gold Glove Awards as well as the Platinum Glove Award in 2015. Through Wednesday, he’s hit .246/.306/.403 over his career.
A 31st-round pick in 2010, Kiermaier beat long odds to not only reach the major leagues but also to collect 10 years of service time — a milestone he achieved this season.
“I’ve always tried to handle myself well on and off the field and not try to bring any distractions or anything like that,” Kiermaier said. “I just like to put my head down and play the game hard and I know doing that and being a good teammate has created a lot more opportunity than maybe what I’ve deserved throughout my career.
“But I’m very, very proud with how I came (up), a 31st rounder, and probably not expected to do a whole lot by a lot of people, but all I said I needed was an opportunity and here I am 14 years later. Very proud of what I’ve done and what I’ve accomplished, and once again, 2024 is not over yet, so see how it plays out.”
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(Photo: Norm Hall / Getty)
