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Kevin Youkilis To Retire

By Jeff Todd | October 30, 2014 at 1:41pm CDT

Corner infielder Kevin Youkilis will hang up his spikes after a 14-year professional career, according to a tweet from his representatives at Pro Star Management. The 35-year-old will be remembered most fondly for his time in Boston.

MLB: Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox

With the Red Sox, Youkilis emerged as one of the game’s most consistent on-base threats. His ability to work counts and draw walks was so legendary that it drew him the appellation “the Greek God of Walks,” a name referenced in the famous Moneyball book and film.

Of course, he could do much more than that. Over his six full-time seasons with the Red Sox, Youkilis slashed an outstanding .292/.392/.500 with 121 home runs. With solid defensive marks at third, he was worth 29.5 rWAR and 25.9 fWAR over that stretch, making him one of the very best position players in the game.

That outstanding performance made Youkilis a key figure in the Boston baseball revival. He did not see World Series action in 2004, his rookie year — though he was on the roster — but was a major contributor during the regular and post seasons in 2007. Over 125 career postseason plate appearances, Youkilis slashed a healthy .306/.376/.568 with six long balls.

Youkilis was ultimately dealt from Boston to the White Sox in the summer of 2012 after struggling in the early going. (That led to one of the more memorable mid-game trade acknowledgments; see photo.) He rebounded in Chicago, putting up a strong second half (.236/.346/.425 with 15 home runs in 344 plate appearances) and earning a $12MM free agent contract with the Yankees.

Issues with his back and plantar fasciitis ultimate marred the tail end of Youkilis’s career. He was ineffective when on the field in New York, and did not even make 100 trips to the plate this year after joining Rakuten of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Nevertheless, Youkilis’s excellence at his peak cannot be ignored. He finished third in the AL MVP vote in 2008, and might have won were it not for teammate Dustin Pedroia. He was named to three All-Star teams over his ten MLB seasons.

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Newsstand Transactions Kevin Youkilis Retirement

Phillies Decline Option On Mike Adams
Main
Nationals Exercise Denard Span’s Option; Decline LaRoche, Soriano
View Comments (39)

Comments

  1. Lurker

    9 years ago

    What happened to Kevin Youkilis? He used to be scary good?

    Old age? He’s only 35!!

    Reply
    • Karkat

      9 years ago

      His body became physically unable to handle third base like 7 years ago but teams kept insisting on playing him there.

      Reply
    • LordOfTheSwings

      9 years ago

      His back is 70 years old though

      Reply
    • Jaysfan1994

      9 years ago

      The steroid era has ended, people should be breaking down before they hit their mid 30’s. The one’s that don’t are usually the PED suspected users.

      Reply
    • LeylandsLung

      9 years ago

      Rick Porcello beatdown

      Reply
      • Scott Berlin

        9 years ago

        And getting plunked by Joba everytime Boston faced the Yankees. For a couple seasons he got hit by the most pitches.

        Reply
      • Justin Lindsay

        9 years ago

        I was at that game, it was awesome!!!

        Reply
    • N1120A

      9 years ago

      His old school “baseball body” isn’t something that necessary holds up well in position players beyond their early-mid thirties

      Reply
  2. Cobby_Box

    9 years ago

    He shall return to the top of Mount Olympus to feast on ambrosia.

    Reply
  3. Karkat

    9 years ago

    Yoooooouuuuuuuukkkkkkkkk

    Reply
  4. Morley C

    9 years ago

    The Greek god of walks off into the sunset

    Reply
  5. Dynasty22

    9 years ago

    Let’s all collectively do one last…..

    “Yooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuk”

    Reply
  6. LazerTown

    9 years ago

    “The 35-year-old will be remembered most fondly for his time in Boston.”

    Well.. That’s a matter of opinion. What about his time in NY?

    Reply
    • Victoria Roberts

      9 years ago

      I’m sure Yankee fans still have a warm feeling in their hearts over the 28 games he played there where he triple slashed .219/.305/.343

      Reply
      • MB923

        9 years ago

        All Star numbers compared to Middlebrooks. I think the Sox are going to release him sooner or later

        Reply
    • Yanksfan2010

      9 years ago

      I have been to more Yankees game than he played in NY. He will always be remembered for his time in Boston.

      Reply
      • MB923

        9 years ago

        Whooooosh.

        Reply
    • NimbusStev

      9 years ago

      953 games in Boston over 7 seasons (one of which ended in a World Series victory) vs. 28 games in New York in a season they didn’t even make the playoffs. I don’t think there’s much to debate.

      Reply
      • MB923

        9 years ago

        I think it’s clearly obvious here he’s being sarcastic.

        Reply
        • LazerTown

          9 years ago

          at least someone gets it.

  7. start_wearing_purple

    9 years ago

    To echo the crowd: Yoooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuk!

    Reply
  8. Metsfan93

    9 years ago

    That 2008 season – 146 wRC+, 621 PA, positive defensive value – was much nastier than I’d remembered. He really had a very good peak. Hopefully he enjoys retirement.

    Reply
  9. Randy Jay Pena

    9 years ago

    15 year professional career? So he started playing in the Majors in 1999? That doesn’t seem right since he started playing in 2004 and his last MLB appearance was in 2013.

    Reply
    • Jesus Ortiz

      9 years ago

      Maybe their including his minor career as well??????

      Reply
    • Karkat

      9 years ago

      “Professional career”, not “major league career.” Minor leaguers get paid, y’know.

      Reply
      • Randy Jay Pena

        9 years ago

        Well I never considered Minor leagues professional but oh well guess Minor leagues is professional too.

        Reply
        • LazerTown

          9 years ago

          Isn’t the majors, but someone is a professional when they get paid to do it.

    • $21621694

      9 years ago

      He signed his first minor league contract in 2001 and played
      in Japan this year. So technically it is a 14-year career. The minor leagues,
      independent leagues, the Asian leagues, the Mexican leagues and even some
      European leagues are considered professional baseball. Basically anything that
      pays you money is professional baseball.

      Reply
      • Jeff_Todd_MLBTR

        9 years ago

        Yeah, I mis-read the tweet from his agency and called it 15. Should’ve been 14. Editing now.

        Reply
    • Metsfan93

      9 years ago

      2014 in Japan probably counts as a professional season as well. MLB isn’t the only professional league.

      Reply
  10. WhoKilledTheRallyMonkey

    9 years ago

    I will miss his batting stance!

    Reply
  11. UK Tiger

    9 years ago

    Quality career, quality beard.

    Reply
  12. Matthew Kitson

    9 years ago

    Know its said about many former players, but could see him as a future hitting coach

    Reply
  13. Steve_in_MA

    9 years ago

    Great player and great heart. We failed to mention he was a Gold Glove first baseman with a perfect defensive season, over nearly 1,100 innings, in 2007. He will be enthusiastically welcomed home at Fenway on many special occasions, heretofore.

    Reply
  14. connfyoozed .

    9 years ago

    And so the breakup of the Rakuten Golden Eagle dynasty begins…
    Happy retirement to a great competitor.

    Reply
  15. ChancellorZed

    9 years ago

    I remember his defense at 1B to be excellent, much better than his D at 3B. Then again, he replaced Adrian Beltre at third after Boston traded for Gonzalez

    Reply
  16. Yanksfan2010

    9 years ago

    He had some real good numbers while playing with the Red Sox with one of the most unique batting stance in baseball.

    Reply
  17. Unassisted Triple Play

    9 years ago

    The greek god of walks is calling it a career, tip of the cap to you youk!

    Reply
  18. Jan

    9 years ago

    Next Yankees hitting coach? Yes, he didn’t do much of anything when he was with us, but prior to his injuries, he was a terrific hitter with an excellent eye. Now with Davis and Magadan no longer options, perhaps we could give Youkilis a shot.

    Reply

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