Citing the Pain of a Demanding Job, Buster Posey Retires at 34

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Moments after Buster Posey, the star catcher who guided the San Francisco Giants by means of the workforce’s biggest period with three World Collection titles, surprisingly introduced his retirement on Thursday, one among his former bosses needed to make certain.

“Is that this a particular, like for positive factor?” Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, stated whereas seated close to Posey throughout a information convention at Oracle Park, the group’s stadium. “I simply needed to ask.”

Posey was certainly critical — even after having fun with probably the greatest seasons of his profession and main the Giants to a franchise-record 107 wins and a Nationwide League West division title through the common season. Regardless of these achievements, Posey, 34, felt it was time to stroll away from enjoying.

“I would like to have the ability to do extra stuff from February to November with my household,” he stated. “Bodily it’s a lot more durable now. And to be trustworthy, it’s exhausting to take pleasure in it as a lot when there’s the bodily ache that you simply’re coping with each day.

“I midway joke with our coaching employees about being executed 5 years in the past. However I don’t understand how far of a stretch that’s actually off with out the work they have been doing every day, with a historical past of an ankle injury after which a hip. It was simply attending to the purpose the place issues that I used to be having fun with weren't as joyful anymore.”

Enjoying 12 years within the main leagues takes its toll on the physique, however no place is extra demanding than catcher. Nonetheless, regardless of the wear and tear and tear and accidents, Posey turned some of the completed gamers of his era.

The Giants chosen Posey, a Georgia native, out of Florida State College with the fifth general decide in 2008, and he produced a splendid résumé which will at some point land him within the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame.

Posey gained the 2010 N.L. Rookie of the Yr Award and the 2012 N.L. Most Worthwhile Participant Award in a profession during which he gained a batting title, was named to seven All-Star groups, acquired 4 Silver Slugger awards and gained one Gold Glove Award. And, in fact, he gained World Collection titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14. Because the begin of the 2010 season, solely Mike Trout, the Angels’ three-time winner of the A.L. M.V.P., has recorded extra wins above alternative (77.eight) than Posey (57.eight), in accordance with FanGraphs.

“He not solely excelled on the sector, however he was a quiet chief that lead by instance,” stated Giants Chairman Greg Johnson, who famous that he cried after Posey referred to as final week to provide him the information. “He has been the consummate skilled, each on and off the sector.”

The M.V.P., batting title and World Collection championship in 2012 could also be his most spectacular achievements on the sector they usually got here shortly after his profession was almost derailed. Throughout a recreation in Might 2011, Posey was injured in a collision on the plate with the Florida Marlins’ Scott Cousins. A decrease leg bone was damaged and three ligaments in his ankle have been torn. Screws have been inserted throughout surgical procedure. Many fearful if he would ever be the identical. (The incident ultimately led to new rules to protect catchers from such collisions.)

After an excruciating rehabilitation, Posey returned in 2012 to hit .336 with 24 residence runs and 103 runs batted in over 148 video games and win his second ring. Six years later, he additionally underwent surgical procedure for a hip damage.

At his information convention on Thursday, Posey declined to element how a lot his physique had harm in recent times as a result of he stated he didn’t need to make excuses for any down performances. He stated going out on his personal phrases was a think about his choice, provided that so many star gamers see a steep decline or ultimately get pushed out.

Being round his household extra was a much bigger cause to retire. Posey forfeited his wage and opted out of the 2020 coronavirus-shortened season to be at residence after he and his spouse, Kristen, adopted twins, who have been hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit after start.

Posey stated he returned this season as a result of he needed to show that he might nonetheless play at a excessive degree after having the worst season of his profession in 2019 and lacking 2020. Rested all through the season, he produced the second highest on-base plus slugging proportion (.889) of his profession and led the shocking Giants in upsetting the defending World Collection champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who had gained eight consecutive division titles, for the N.L. West crown. (They fell to the 106-win Dodgers in a division collection within the playoffs.)

Getting into 2021, the ultimate assured season of his nine-year $167 million extension, Posey stated he had a sense it might be his final. And because the season went on, he by no means wavered. Even after enjoying properly, he wasn’t swayed.

“That’s a part of the rationale I do really feel at peace with my determination, as a result of it might clearly be a lot more durable if I felt in any other case,” stated Posey, whose contract had a $22 million membership choice for 2022.

Posey stated he would miss the camaraderie of and competing alongside his teammates and group officers, and seeing followers on a regular basis. However he stated he anticipated to stay concerned with the Giants someway. Johnson stated the group was nonetheless ironing out a future position for Posey off the sector.