Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier plans to retire after the 2024 season, he told the Tampa Bay Times.
“I envisioned that this was going to be my last year and here I am, with the way my body feels and with the state of our team and with what our record is, just been doing a lot of reflecting lately,” Kiermaier said after the Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 on Wednesday.
The Blue Jays put the 34-year-old Kiermaier on revocable waivers earlier this month but no team put in a claim.
Kiermaier was a 31st-round draft pick by the Rays in 2010 who went on to win four Gold Gloves and a Platinum Glove. He is hitting just .195 this season, his second with the Blue Jays after nine full seasons with the Rays.
He remains a defensive force, but he told the Times that preparation is tougher on his body.
“The way I reflect on it, the product I put on the field now still can be good, but the effort it takes to get it to what I’ve been used to all those years, with my speed and defense and arm and everything, it’s tough,” he said.
“I knew this year was going to be tough just with how I felt last year, and I know as the years go by it’s going to get tougher and tougher. I have my third kid coming in December, and it’s time for me to be a dad and let my body recover.”
Kiermaier has four homers and 18 RBIs in 76 games this season.
He’s a .247 hitter with a .710 OPS to go with 94 home runs and 370 RBIs in 1,119 games.
Kiermaier isn’t ending his career with regrets.
“I’m very proud and very happy,” Kiermaier said. “It’s just been the best journey I could ever ask for. … It’s been incredible.”