SEATTLE— Kyle Seager announced his retirement from baseball after 11 in the majors, all with the Seattle Mariners.
Always shying away from social media, Seager made his decision known through a short statement posted by his wife, Julie, on his Twitter account.
A note from my husband. pic.twitter.com/Zl5peB3vR2
— Julie Seager (@JulieSeager15) December 29, 2021
“Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for supporting me throughout my career. It has been a wonderful journey, but I am incredibly excited for the new chapter in my life,” the statement said.
The 34-year-old became a free agent after the season when Seattle failed to activate the club option on his contract. Rather than test the market amid the uncertainty created by the current baseball labor dispute, Seager chose to retire.
His decision is surprising considering that he was coming off one of his best seasons. He hit 35 home runs and had 101 RBIs, both career-highs, helping Seattle advance through the playoffs to the home stretch.
Seager was replaced in tears in Seattle’s final game on Oct. 3 in the ninth inning after the Mariners were already eliminated from contention.
“It was something very special for me. It was a real moment,” Seager said after the match. “Obviously, you know that moment is going to happen. You think about it, you think about how you’re going to feel, but you can’t prepare. It was really special.”
.
