Four-Time Gold Glove First Baseman Announces Retirement

Following a productive 13-year career, 2015 World Series champion Eric Hosmer announced his retirement from MLB on Wednesday morning. In an Instagram post, Hosmer announced his retirement and the start of his new media company stating, “The playing days are unfortunately over but I’m committed to giving back to the baseball community that helped shaped my life,” Hosmer continued, “MoonBall Media will be the driving force behind authentic sports storytelling, built by baseball. Today, we’re officially live.” Despite seeing a dip in production the last two seasons in the league, Hosmer will go down as one of the best first baseman to play the position at the professional level. 

The 34-year-old first baseman was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2008 MLB Draft with the third overall pick. In his first three seasons in the league, Hosmer would work his way up the minor league rankings in the Royals’ farm system alongside teammate Mike Moustakas. In 2011, Hosmer would make his major league debut on May 6 against the Oakland Athletics and would finish his first month in the majors by being named Royals Player of the Month. At the end of his rookie season, Hosmer would finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting, after hitting .293 with 19 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 153 hits in 128 games played. Hosmer would spend his first seven seasons with the Royals, where he would help lead the franchise to their first championship in 30 years in the 2015 season. In his Royals career, Hosmer would hit .283 with 127 home runs and 566 RBIs in 1,048 games played. 

After having a career-high season in 2017 with a .318 batting average, tying his personal best 25 home runs, and being named the Silver Slugger Award winner, Hosmer would enter free agency for the first time in his career. The 2016 All-Star would sign an eight-year contract with the Padres and would spend his next five seasons in San Diego. To end his career, Hosmer would have two brief one-year stints with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs in 2022 and 2023. In his career, Hosmer would finish with a .276 batting average, 198 home runs, 893 RBIs, and 1,753 hits in 1,689 games played.