'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On October 31 - one day after the culmination of the 2024 World Series - Alex Kirilloff took to X to announce his retirement from MLB. Only 26, the announcement from the former Twins star comes as a surprise to many.
In his lengthy post, he went over his reasons for deciding to hang up his glove. Although the 26-year-old made it clear that he benefitted hugely from his MLB career, he also conceded that his four seasons in the big leagues have taken their toll, both mentally and physically.
Trending
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the fifteenth overall selection in the 2016 Draft out of Plum High School in Pittsburgh. Although he was considered to be one of his organization's top prospects, successive injuries have prevented him from ever participating in a full season.
It all began in 2019, when a wrist injury limited him to 94 games with Double-A Pensacola. However, offseason rehab cleared the way for the first baseman to make his MLB debut on September 30, 2020 against the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card Series.
Over the next few seasons, injuries would continue to plague Kirilloff. In July 2021, he announced he would undergo season-ending surgery on his wrist before being sidelined again on account of his wrist the following season. Between 2021 and 2022, Kirilloff played just 104 out of a possible 324 Twins games.
In the first 57 games of the 2024 season, he hit a mere .201 with 5 homers and 20 RBI. His last MLB game took place on June 11 against the Colorado Rockies, as he was sent to the long-term IL with nerve issues a week later.
Alex Kirilloff reveals health status in video call
Shortly after he announced his retirement, Kirilloff took part in a video press conference with reporters. During the scrum, he shed further light on his health condition:
"It just comes to the point where you have to ask yourself, 'Should I be playing, and how does it affect my quality of life down the road?'"
The 6-foot-2 leftie also went on to claim that he had been diagnosed with a slipping vertebrae that could take up to a year to heal.
