Former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star left-handed pitcher Alex Wood has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
He made the announcement Friday on his Instagram.
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“Today, with immense gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball,” Wood wrote.
“For over half my life, every decision I’ve made has centered around how it would impact my baseball career. I’ve given every ounce of myself in pursuit of my lifelong dream of becoming a big leaguer. Playing 12 years in the show, reaching 7 postseasons, winning a World Series, and earning an All-Star selection — I never could’ve imagined it would turn out this way.
“Baseball was my first love. Outside of God and my family, nothing else has shaped me the way this game has. Even writing this, I can’t help but smile thinking about how much I still love the game after all this time.”
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Wood was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He debuted with Atlanta in 2013 and was with the Braves until midway through the 2015 season, when he was traded to the Dodgers in a three-team deal with the Miami Marlins.
Wood consistently improved every year with LA, making an All-Star appearance in 2017. He finished the year going 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA and a top-10 Cy Young finish.
After the 2018 season, in which he had a 3.68 ERA across 151.2 innings, he was traded to the Cincinati Reds in a salary dump move that sent him, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Kyle Farmer out.
Wood spent one season with the Reds before returning to the Dodgers in 2020 in their World Series winning season. He then signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants ahead of the 2021 season.
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Wood had a solid season in 2021, sporting a 3.83 ERA across 26 starts. However, he struggled in 2022 and 2023, and then finished his career with the Oakland Athletics last season, making nine appearances and sporting a 5.26 ERA.
Wood finishes his 12-year career with a 3.78 ERA. He was a part of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series winning team, making four appearances that postseason and allowing one earned run over 6.2 innings of work.
His final postseason appearance came in 2021 with the Giants against the Dodgers, when he pitched 4.2 shutout innings in San Francisco’s 1-0 win in Game 3.
“To everyone who helped make this dream a reality that I couldn’t begin to list — if you think this is about you — IT IS. I love you and thank you,” Wood’s post concluded. “Cheers to what’s next. See you at the park!”
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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One Response
Thank you Alex for the memories and the class you demonstrated as a professional. Good luck in the next chapter of your life!