Veteran Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager announced Wednesday on social media that he is retiring from baseball. Seager wrote in a statement posted to his wife Julie’s Instagram and Twitter accounts: “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.”

Seager’s retirement comes as a bit of a surprise as he is relatively young.  Seager hit .251 with 242 home runs over his 11-year career. He joined the Mariners as a third-round pick in the 2009 MLB Draft and spent his entire career with the organization. He made his debut with the club in 2011, and is a one-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner, both earned in 2014. However in 2021, Seager hit a career-low .212 with a career-hight 35 home runs. He signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension with the Mariners in 2014.

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