Veteran infielder Kolten Wong introduced his retirement from skilled baseball earlier on Sunday at his alma mater, the College of Hawaii, as relayed by Brian McInnis of Spectrum News. Wong was on the town to throw out the primary pitch at a sport in opposition to UC San Diego.
“Just about proper now, I’m completed,” Wong mentioned, as relayed by McInnis. “I’ve sort of come to the conclusion that I’m in all probability going to be hanging them up. It’s simply a kind of issues the place, the sport the way it’s going now, there’s no sense of chasing (it). … I’m a dad now, sure, I’m having fun with that. I’m attempting to be the most effective huge league dad that I may be. So I’m going to stay to that.”
A veteran of 11 MLB seasons, the 34-year-old Wong was drafted twenty second total by the Cardinals again in 2011. He made his approach to the majors for a quick cup of espresso simply two years later, however his huge league profession started in earnest in the course of the 2014 season. That yr, Wong appeared in 113 video games for the Cardinals and completed third in NL Rookie of the 12 months voting behind Jacob deGrom and Billy Hamilton after slashing .249/.292/.388 in 433 journeys to the plate whereas taking part in second base solely for St. Louis. Wong would go on as a roughly common common with the Playing cards for just a few years, getting a quick look within the outfield in the course of the 2016 season to accommodate occasional reps on the place for Matt Carpenter and Jedd Gyorko however in any other case remaining locked in because the membership’s on a regular basis second baseman thanks to just about common offense (92 wRC+) and unbelievable protection on the keystone.
Wong loved one thing of a breakout throughout his age-26 season with the Cardinals in 2017, as he slashed .285/.376/.412 with a 108 wRC+. It was his greatest offensive season to that time in his profession, and whereas accidents restricted him to only 108 video games that yr, he would flip in above-average outcomes total on the plate from the beginning of that season onward. That was a fortuitous step ahead for the Cardinals, seeing because it got here in simply the second yr of a five-year, $25.5M extension the perimeters agreed to previous to the 2016 season. Wong has a mixed .273/.356/.398 (104 wRC+) whereas taking part in stellar protection over the course of his remaining 4 years in St. Louis, even incomes Gold Glove awards for his work at second base in the course of the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Except for that strong common season manufacturing, Wong departed St. Louis with a strong postseason resume, having slashed .206/.243/.464 with 5 homers, 4 stolen bases, eight doubles, and a triple in 104 postseason plate appearances for the Playing cards. The Cardinals finally declined Wong’s 2021 membership choice and allowed him to check free company with the intention to create an on a regular basis spot within the lineup for utility man Tommy Edman. Wong ultimately signed with the Brewers on a two-year, $18M assure that got here with a membership choice for the 2023 season. Wong’s defensive numbers took a step again throughout his time in Milwaukee as he entered his age-30 season, however his offense was higher than ever as he hit a powerful .262/.337/.439 (113 wRC+) throughout his two campaigns with the membership.
In contrast to the Cardinals earlier than them, the Brewers did decide up his third-year membership choice. With that being mentioned, he nonetheless discovered himself in one other uniform previous to the 2023 marketing campaign as he was traded to the Mariners in a deal that introduced Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro to Milwaukee. It’s a deal that didn’t work out for anybody, as none of these gamers had been significantly efficient for his or her new golf equipment. Wong struggled mightily throughout his time in Seattle, hitting simply .165/.241/.227 throughout 67 video games earlier than he was launched in early August.
Wong signed with the Dodgers on a minor league deal shortly thereafter, nevertheless, and managed to finish his huge league profession on a excessive be aware as he slashed a powerful .300/.353/.500 (129 wRC+) over 20 video games in Los Angeles earlier than collaborating within the NLDS with the membership. Headed into 2024, Wong signed briefly with each the Orioles and the Diamondbacks on minor league offers. He hit .271/.339/.383 in 121 journeys to the plate for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno earlier than being granted his launch just below a yr in the past. He’s not performed in affiliated ball since, and after going unsigned this offseason, Wong has evidently determined to place his taking part in profession behind him.
In all, Wong wraps his MLB profession with a .256/.330/.390 profession slash line, good for a roughly league-average 97 wRC+. That triple slash comes throughout 1189 video games and encapsulates a profession that noticed him acquire 973 hits, 303 extra-base hits, 511 runs scored and 405 runs batted in. Along with his aforementioned two Gold Glove awards and standing as a Rookie of the 12 months finalist, Wong additionally acquired down-ballot consideration for the NL MVP award in the course of the 2019 season.
