Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford declares retirement after 14 seasons

Brandon Crawford is retiring after 14 main league seasons, all however one performed along with his hometown San Francisco Giants as a shortstop and fan favourite.

A four-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star, the veteran infielder introduced his choice in an Instagram put up on Wednesday.

“During this time of 12 months, I’m consistently reminded of the issues in my life that I’m most grateful for. Baseball is one among them,” Crawford wrote. “Baseball has been part of my life for so long as I can bear in mind, and for the remainder of my life I’ll be glad about the alternatives and experiences it has given me. Time is treasured. I’m extremely grateful for every little thing I spent years enjoying the sport that I really like, however now it is time to spend them with the individuals I’m most grateful for. Thank you to all of you who’ve been there for me over time.”

A fourth-round draft choose in 2008 out of UCLA, Crawford made his debut on May 27, 2011, and gained World Series championships with the Giants in 2012 and 2014 — the final two titles of their alternating-year streak since 2010 -14.

The Giants mentioned they may honor Crawford’s profession April 26 at Oracle Park. He was a profession .249 hitter with 147 residence runs and 748 RBI, however his capacity to play the important thing defensive sport is what he’ll lengthy be remembered for by many.

“It has been an honor to know Brandon as a good friend and teammate,” Giants new president of baseball operations Buster Posey mentioned in an announcement. “From the primary day we had been each drafted in 2008 to our final 12 months enjoying collectively in 2021, it was an honor to play alongside him for 14 years. Whether it is pivotal moments just like the Grand Slam he achieved within the 2014 wild card sport in Pittsburgh, the franchise-record seven-hit sport recorded in Miami, or the extraordinary defensive performs and acrobatic photographs he made time and time once more, Brandon left the mark in a manner that few athletes do.”

It was thought that Crawford may retire after the 2023 season when his contract expired in San Francisco, however he determined to present him one other 12 months and joined the St. Louis Cardinals on a one-year, $2 million deal. He was launched in August after hitting .169 with one homer and 4 RBIs over 80 plate appearances.

Crawford and spouse Jalynne have 5 younger youngsters, and household will likely be Crawford’s predominant focus going ahead.

As a boy, Crawford would lean on the railing at Candlestick Park along with his hat on backwards supporting his beloved Giants — and would finally star for them.

When he signed a two-year, $32 million contract in August 2021 whereas wrapping up a six-year, $75 million contract he signed in November 2015, Crawford expressed his gratitude for enjoying in the identical place for thus lengthy .

“Being drafted by my hometown staff and spending a majority of my profession with them has far surpassed any goals I had as a child,” Crawford wrote in Wednesday’s put up. “I undoubtedly pretended to win a World Series in my yard, however to win two? It was past my wildest goals.”

He is the Giants’ profession chief in video games performed at shortstop with 1,617.

“Watching Brandon play has been an absolute privilege not just for me however for Giants followers in all places,” President and CEO Larry Baer said this.

“He was an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, two-time World Series champion and Lou Gehrig and Willie Mac Award winner, who all the time performed himself with class, honor and respect. The Giants are We had been extremely blessed to have had Brandon as a part of the franchise for 16 years – in actual fact for his complete 37 years, first as a younger fan, who will ever neglect that indelible photograph of him leaning on the railing at Candlestick Park when there was chance that his Giants might depart San Francisco – and as this chapter of his profession closes, his legacy within the sport will likely be celebrated by followers, teammates and future generations of gamers who admire him for the instance he set given”.

Associated Press reporting.

(Want nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day.)

Get extra from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get data on video games, information and extra