Kevin Kiermaier, center fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, has announced that the 2024 season will be his final year in Major League Baseball. Kiermaier confirmed his decision on Wednesday, stating he will retire at the end of this year.
“This is it, 2024 is it for me,” Kiermaier told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times before the Blue Jays faced his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays. “This next week will be very interesting (in terms of a potential trade). But this will be my last year playing.”
Kiermaier, 34, cited the physical toll of playing on artificial turf for over a decade as a significant factor in his decision to retire. Throughout his career, Kiermaier has dealt with numerous injuries and has played more than 130 games in a season only once.
After spending his first ten seasons with the Rays, Kiermaier joined the Blue Jays as a free agent two years ago. Despite a strong 2023 season with Toronto, he has struggled this year, hitting a career-low .195/.239/.314 in 76 games.
Earlier this month, the Blue Jays placed Kiermaier on waivers, but he went unclaimed and remains with the team.
Drafted in the 31st round by the Rays in 2010, Kiermaier has developed into one of the premier defensive center fielders of his era. He has won four Gold Glove awards and holds the record for the most defensive runs saved (159) in center field since the statistic’s inception in 2003.
In the 2024 season, Kiermaier continues to demonstrate elite defensive skills, with seven defensive runs saved and eight outs above average. His defensive prowess could be valuable to a playoff contender if the Blue Jays are able to trade him.
Over his 12-year career, Kiermaier has a batting line of .247/.306/.404, with 94 home runs, 370 RBIs, and 131 stolen bases. He is well-represented in the Rays’ record books and was instrumental in the team’s three playoff appearances, including the 2020 American League pennant.
