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Josh Phegley Announces Retirement

By Jeff Todd | February 3, 2021 at 11:49pm CDT

Backstop Josh Phegley announced today that he is hanging up his spikes. He appeared in each of the prior eight MLB campaigns.

Phegley, who’ll celebrate his 33rd birthday later this month, opened and closed his career in Chicago but spent most of his time with the Athletics. He finishes with 1,203 plate appearances of .225/.268/.381 hitting and 35 home runs.

A first-round draft pick out of Indiana, Phegley debuted with the White Sox in 2013. He had yet to fully establish himself in the majors when he was shipped to Oakland as part of a memorable swap.

Phegley launched his career with the A’s with a strong showing in 2015, when he slashed .249/.300/.449 in 73 games of action. Unfortunately, that proved to be a high-water mark. Phegley served as a reserve until 2019, when he appeared in a personal-high 106 contests and posted a .239/.282/.411 batting line with a career-best dozen long balls.

In his first trip onto the open market, Phegley settled for a minor-league deal with the Cubs. He cracked the Opening Day roster but only saw limited action. Phegley will bow out of the game now rather than battling for another opportunity. MLBTR wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

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Comments

  1. jyosuckas

    3 weeks ago

    Yikes, never heard of this guy but best of luck to him on his next stop on the journey of life

    Like
    Reply
    • herecomdatboi

      3 weeks ago

      He was pretty decent with the A’s

      6 Like
      Reply
  2. Rangers29

    3 weeks ago

    Hm, I thought he was still good enough to be a backup for some team, but best of luck to him in his retirement.

    8 Like
    Reply
    • bigguccisosa300

      3 weeks ago

      Maybe he didn’t want to continue catching (a tough job, and his only position) without a guaranteed major league contract anymore. Probably has some good reasons too (being with family, unknown injuries).

      Continue your corny little crusade to be a blogger though buddy

      3 Like
      Reply
      • tom brunanskys black sock

        3 weeks ago

        Uncalled for rudeness.

        8 Like
        Reply
      • YouCannnnnPutItOnTheBoard

        3 weeks ago

        You good bro? I don’t see why you had to input the second part of your comment. There didn’t seem to be anything said that warranted it.

        3 Like
        Reply
      • Hosmer for HOF

        3 weeks ago

        Lol I didn’t know you had to work your way up the levels to be an esteemed blogger

        3 Like
        Reply
      • bigguccisosa300

        3 weeks ago

        I just don’t really enjoy his generally boring comments, asinine humour, limited knowledge, and self promotion. Make me a villain, idc

        Like
        Reply
        • tom brunanskys black sock

          3 weeks ago

          Wow if those things irk you, I don’t recommend the internet.

          4 Like
          Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          3 weeks ago

          ….and somehow you make all that stuff seem even more likable than YOU. Golden touch.

          3 Like
          Reply
        • bigguccisosa300

          3 weeks ago

          I was raised by the internet my friend, I can tell a real one when I see one

          Like
          Reply
        • tom brunanskys black sock

          3 weeks ago

          Ah, that explains it. Enjoy your day!

          1 Like
          Reply
        • bigguccisosa300

          3 weeks ago

          Settle down buddy I’m not too fond of your know it all attitude either

          Like
          Reply
        • tom brunanskys black sock

          3 weeks ago

          Lol

          Like
          Reply
        • Rangers29

          3 weeks ago

          Livin’ rent free inside your head.

          2 Like
          Reply
        • bigguccisosa300

          3 weeks ago

          @rangers29 living’ rent free outside your “articles”

          Like
          Reply
        • Rangers29

          3 weeks ago

          Idk what you’re trying to prove being here, but I’m happy to talk my guy.

          2 Like
          Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          3 weeks ago

          I don’t think anyone is your buddy. So don’t get hurt inside when they dont take your directives. Raised by the internet….what the the wolves didnt want a ranter?

          Like
          Reply
        • Rowdy's Telles

          3 weeks ago

          So don’t read the comments or follow him… seems like a rather simple solution. I don’t like your comments, therefore when I see you comment going forward I wont bother to read it… see how that works? Lol

          Like
          Reply
  3. HubcapDiamondStarHalo

    3 weeks ago

    We all dream of Henry Aaron, but I’d still have given body parts to hit 35 homers in the majors…

    13 Like
    Reply
    • trident

      3 weeks ago

      Are you serious, Clark?

      Like
      Reply
      • tom brunanskys black sock

        3 weeks ago

        That ain’t the friggen Christmas star

        1 Like
        Reply
    • fox471

      3 weeks ago

      Agree.

      Like
      Reply
      • fox471

        3 weeks ago

        Agree with hubcap.

        Like
        Reply
  4. A's lover

    3 weeks ago

    We got to watch him close up quite a bit behind the plate in Oakland. Always played hard, gave everything to the team, not the most talented player, but a great team guy. Generous with the kids, always stopped to sign for autographs. Good sense of humor: on the player nickname jersey weekend, his uniform read “PTBNL” :<) Blessings on Josh!

    18 Like
    Reply
    • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

      3 weeks ago

      I didn’t know that about the uni… Pretty funny!!!

      4 Like
      Reply
    • SalaryCapMyth

      3 weeks ago

      Thank you for making him mean a little more to us. Good story.

      4 Like
      Reply
    • tom brunanskys black sock

      3 weeks ago

      Lol that’s rad

      Like
      Reply
    • paddyo875

      3 weeks ago

      And I thought Austin Barnes’ “Sam” was good. PTBNL is much more amusing.

      Like
      Reply
    • Rowdy's Telles

      3 weeks ago

      Cool story. I have nothing but respect for catchers it’s the hardest job in baseball.

      Like
      Reply
  5. jkinser20

    3 weeks ago

    I’m always so curious to know what AAAA players do post retirement. Do they have enough money after 8+ years in pro/mlb baseball to live comfortably and enjoy life or do they have to grind like the rest of us. Weird to think that my accountant very well could have been a pro ball player at some point

    Like
    Reply
    • KillerBs

      3 weeks ago

      well, he made 3.5 million pre tax in his career, should be good enough if he doesn’t blow em on trees and stuff

      2 Like
      Reply
      • A's lover

        3 weeks ago

        Ha ha ha!

        Like
        Reply
    • smuzqwpdmx

      3 weeks ago

      When they retire at 33, it’s a good bet they’ll do something else regardless of how much money they have. You won’t see him working at McDonald’s though. He can take his time to decide what career he’d like to try next.

      Of course, coaching or scouting somewhere is possible if he doesn’t want to leave baseball.

      4 Like
      Reply
      • A's lover

        3 weeks ago

        I could see him being a coach, good call.

        2 Like
        Reply
    • dmazcomp

      3 weeks ago

      The only ones I know of are former Tigers. Joe Hall, a former runs baseball clinics pretty much year round in Toledo. Andy Dirks is a realtor in Michigan. Mark Fidrych ran a trucking company until he died.

      Like
      Reply
    • dirkg

      3 weeks ago

      They need 10 years of MLB playing time to qualify for the MLB pension. That’s why you see guys try to hang on. Many guys who do or don’t reach that mark go onto other ventures. Adam Kennedy, for example, 2B on the 2002 Angels WS team, is a local realtor here in the OC.

      Like
      Reply
  6. Lloyd Emerson

    3 weeks ago

    He will wear a Cubs Jersey when he is elected to the hall of fame.

    5 Like
    Reply
    • Dock_Elvis

      3 weeks ago

      The irony that the ceremony will probably only happen a few months prior to the Cubs winning their next World Series. Of course…no fans on the stands for that one.

      Like
      Reply
  7. Eric Olson

    3 weeks ago

    A really nice guy, always friendly with the fans. Best wishes on his future endeavors!

    3 Like
    Reply
  8. Willie Mays Hayes

    3 weeks ago

    NOOO NOT PHLEGLEY!!! I MEAN PHEGLEY!!

    Like
    Reply
  9. Mjshof

    3 weeks ago

    Nice to hear about his interacting with young fans.

    4 Like
    Reply
  10. AstrosWS20

    3 weeks ago

    He had a very good college career at Indiana. I enjoyed watching him there. Best of luck to you Phegley.

    Like
    Reply
  11. Dumpster Divin Theo

    3 weeks ago

    Phegley the human beer keg. A phan phavorite during his initial callup to Chicago.

    Like
    Reply
  12. julyn82001

    3 weeks ago

    Josh never had the opportunity to be a regular, simply put. Best of luck in future endeavors, Phegley.

    Like
    Reply
    • Dock_Elvis

      3 weeks ago

      Bat .230 and subpar the .300 obp and you get buried quick as a catcher. Serviceable, that’s what I’d say. He parlayed that into over 5M in earnings…retires at 33 in presumed good health. Dude did ok.

      Like
      Reply
  13. jdan74

    3 weeks ago

    Phuck!

    1 Like
    Reply
  14. Biittner33

    3 weeks ago

    Phegley was a 1st round pick (38th overall) of the White Sox. His rookie contract included a signing bonus of $858,600 plus $30,000 to be used for college. According to Sportrac, he earned $5,179,934 over parts of 8 MLB seasons. Good luck in your future endeavors, Josh!

    2 Like
    Reply
  15. bravesfan

    3 weeks ago

    I’m a big baseball fan and couldn’t tell you who he was… I struggle to follow west coast teams as closely as east coast though just cause I’m well asleep by the time east games end and west begin most days

    Like
    Reply
  16. Tarheel1434

    3 weeks ago

    I had a chance to play against Presley a couple times when we were in high school. He was out of Terre Haute, IN. The best story I can give you all was my hugh school coach told me to play deep in center. I played deeper than normal but still had room. He hit a liner so hard I barely had a chance to turn and play it off the wall. Every ball he hit in high school was a bullet. Would explain why he was Mr Indiana in baseball. He was head and shoulders better than everyone then. Injuries and catching up with better talent in the bigs can get even the guys we think were talented.

    2 Like
    Reply
  17. Daver520

    3 weeks ago

    *** Insert MLBTR Condolences/Best wishes/Good luck message here

    1 Like
    Reply
  18. Dingus

    3 weeks ago

    Yawn

    Like
    Reply
  19. Mjshof

    3 weeks ago

    Iwnnsotrrysomeetgdildogfdjfucbvkshitgfjfb

    1 Like
    Reply
  20. Mjshof

    3 weeks ago

    Lol pocket post

    Like
    Reply
  21. tom1193

    3 weeks ago

    Will always remember this guy fondly for the random 8-rbi game he gave me off the bench towards the beginning of 2019 lol. He started that year looking like he might actually break the all star game.

    3 Like
    Reply
  22. bucketbrew35

    3 weeks ago

    Hopefully he invested some of that $3.5 million.

    Like
    Reply
  23. mwrherm0

    3 weeks ago

    I watched him play with White Sox. Great with fans, always signed autographs. He played hard, wasn’t the most talented. Game need more good people like him. I hope he gets in coaching.

    Like
    Reply
  24. NBE

    3 weeks ago

    I think he could play longer and be a solid backup! But I bet he wants to be with his family.

    Like
    Reply
  25. yamsi1912

    3 weeks ago

    See you in Cooperstown Josh!

    Tickets are $25.00

    Like
    Reply
    • Metsfan9

      3 weeks ago

      Haha where I have heard that before? Oh wait, eveywhere

      Like
      Reply
  26. sfgiants49ers

    3 weeks ago

    Wish the best.
    Can always think about coming back.
    Got to watch him play a lot for the A’s.

    Like
    Reply
  27. paddyo875

    2 weeks ago

    I did not see what part of this article was recently updated, but it’s good to see Jeff Todd posting articles on MLBTR!

    Like
    Reply

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