Veteran outfielder Jon Jay took to Twitter earlier today to announce his retirement after over a decade in the big leagues.
“As a kid I remember watching SportsCenter highlights and imitating my favorite MLB players,” Jay wrote. “It is still surreal to me that I played Major League Baseball. As I officially retire from the game that changed my life, I want to thank everyone who has played a role in getting me here.”
Jay, 37, was a second round pick of the Cardinals in 2006 and then made his MLB debut in 2010. He immediately hit the ground running with the contact-oriented approach that would be a trademark of his career. He hit .300/.359/.422, walking in 7.4% of his plate appearances and striking out just 15.5% of the time. That production amounted to a 116 wRC+, or 16% above league average. The next year, he put up a similar line of .297/.344/.424, 115 wRC+, helping the Cardinals qualify for the postseason and eventually win the 2011 World Series.
Jay stuck with the Cardinals for the next four seasons, with the team making the postseason in each of them. His production stayed largely consistent until wrist issues started hampering him in 2015. He underwent surgery prior to that season and then struggled at the plate, hitting .210/.306/.257. After that campaign, he was traded to the Padres for Jedd Gyorko.
He was able to bounce back somewhat in 2016, hitting .291/.339/.389 as a Padre, good enough for a wRC+ of 99. He signed with the Cubs for the 2017 season and had another solid season, hitting .296/.374/.375, 101 wRC+. He went into journeyman mode for the next few years, spending time with the Royals, Diamondbacks, White Sox, D-Backs again, and then the Angels last year, with none of those stints lasting more than 84 games.
In all, Jay played in 1201 games in 12 MLB seasons from 2010 to 2021. He will head into retirement with a lifetime .283/.348/.373 batting line, 37 home runs, 185 doubles, 25 triples, 1,087 total hits, 532 runs scored, 341 runs batted in and 55 stolen bases. He was a solid contributor to an excellent run of Cardinals baseball, earning a World Series ring in the process. MLBTR congratulates him on a fine career and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.
Maybe the Braves should have called. He can’t be worse than Albies, Duvall, and Dickerson
That is some wild “what have you done for me recently” logic. Albies is a guy most teams would salivating over having, especially on that contact.
I remember when Jay first came up with the Cardinals. Not sure anyone had heard of the guy, but he made himself into a solid major leaguer and had a good, steady career. Well done.
I always like it when a player can hang on to get his ten year pension. Jay made it 10.157 years.
BOOM, great post….I was wondering the same thing….
Phillies did it for a long term Mets guy, forget his name (?)Elster? But Phils kept him on the roster early in the year to get him his “10” rights, then got optioned soon after….
But he was a middle inf type…so easy to ease in or cut..
Kevin Elster
Elster was done after the Phillies helped him out. Then he mysteriously tapped into previously unseen power and signed with Texas and clobbered 24 dongs in 1996 and was able to ride off of that for another couple years. Wonder how many in that era tried getting on the sauce to guarantee the pension.
I’m sure he retires a multi millionaire as well. Niiiiice!
Since you posted it. What’s the difference between getting the 10 yr pension and not getting it
usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/06/11/mlb-10-ye…
It isn’t much in what they got as a player but they can live nicely on it if they were broke…
underrated player and underrated founding father
Love the historical reference.
you can thank the WSox fans for that. did a good job at popularizing the Jay-Burr-Hamilton group they had for a bit there. BBREF also lists “The Federalist” as a nickname, which is top-notch.
I agree that John Jay was an underrated founding father.
He was the first Chief Justice,although the job did not become significant until the great John Marshall took it over.
John Jay did get his name on the Federalist Papers,but only wrote one of the many by Madison and Hamilton.
And Jon Jay used to always kill the Pirates,although many did during his career time period except for three years.
Well that was his Nickname. The Federalist.
I remember Jon Jay making some great plays for the Cardinals years ago. Always thought he was underappreciated.
I wish Jon the best in his future endeavors.
Leave the memories alone
1,000+ hits and a WS ring to boot! Congrats on a heckuva career!
He had a knack for the double
Very good Cardinal.
I havent heard his name in AGESSSSS, wow this is a throwback. Happy retirement to him.
Throwback? The guy was playing last year in your own teams division.
I mean, to be fair, he only had 14 plate appearances last season. Those were his only 14 plate appearances on an AL West team.
King of the great walk up music as well.
I don’t remember what he used. I am curious what songs he had.
Good luck to you Jon. You had a good career,made a lot of money, and played the game you loved. When teams were not forecasting you to be counted on you would do whatever you needed to do to be back in the lineup and on the field. Good work Jon Henry.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back as a hitting coach in the (near?) Future
Lord knows the Cardinals need to get another head hitting coach!!! One with a better attitude and better philosophy of hitting.
But then again—— he is another “Yes” man for John Mozeliak, so his poor philosophy will more than likely remain as long as Mozeliak remains with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals are in a little bit of a funk right now (almost all of baseball is) But we have one of the best offenses in baseball so what are you talking about?
He’s saying Jeff Albert is a dumpster fire. He’s also saying Mo has strong personal feelings about Albert and the Cards are likely stuck with said dumpster fire as long as Mo is around. Ask Mike Shildt for more details.
Good clutch hitter in his brief 1-year stint on my Cubs.
One of the best nicknames ever !!
John Jay Jingleheimer Schmidt
Good luck Jay!
Many fond memories of John. He was my son’s favorite player and we were fortunate to meet him several times. He was very gracious and we had some great conversations. He was a fun player to watch and an important part of that fabulous 2011 team. All the best John and thanks for the memories
memory so good you spelled his name wrong
Happy trails Jon Jay! One of my favorite players during your time with the Cardinals. Had a knack for leaning into inside pitches and taking one for the team. Best of luck going forward.
Hall of Fame in the Harold Baines wing?
They have to let Lenny Harris in first. Lenny was the Pete Rose of Pinch Hitters
I remember La Russa cussing at him on a misplay in center during 2011 world series
Great player and person from UM. Great Cardinal. Hope he makes Cards HOF. Good luck in your next journey JJ!
dear god no
God is capitalized.
As sound a fundamental player as you’ll ever find. Etched himself out a pretty good career. Coaching? managing? if the interest is there?
Very unfortunate but well deserved for one of the top superstars of baseball.
It makes me feel so good to read all the love for John Jay. He was a throwback: a gritty, bat-to-ball kind of player who found himself out of step with the home run or bust approach that predominates these days. And for that reason he just didn’t get the respect that he deserved.
you must mean Jon Jay, not John Jay
Jon Jay overachieved. He did everything to the best of his ability. He had a long and successful career. I imagine he will reconnect with the sport as a coach at some point. Good luck Jay. Enjoy.
how could he overachieve if he did his best?
Oh goodie a person that doesn’t understand not everything is literal, Such a joy.
He was also considered a leader. Congrats on a fine career JJ.
Thanks for the memories Jon
As a former St. Louis Cardinal, he is guaranteed a coaching or broadcasting position of his choice.
He couldn’t be any worse than Ricky Horton.
maybe he could take danny macs job
I always liked to watch Jon Jay play. All out hustle was an everyday thing for him!!
Thanks Jon Jay for the pleasant memories you’ve left while playing for the Cardinals!!!
Fortunately, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison are still active.
As a STL Cardinals fan I want to thank Jon Jay for his contributions. He’s yet another one of those glue guys who don’t get much credit because they are the equivalent of role players. They mean as much as the stars on your teams so ty for the years and glad you got to have a full solid career.
role player? he played mostly full time in st. louis
Didn’t he sign the Declaration of Independence?
Danny is capitalized!
Last of the Memphis Mafia to hang it up.
One of my favorite Cardinal players!!
I had the pleasure of waiting on him several times when he was a Cardinal. I worked at Men’s Wearhouse that was frequented by some of the younger Redbirds. He was a pretty quiet type unless he was in with his best friend, Daniel Descalsco. He was just a very pleasant and kind person and you can tell where he got it from because I also had the pleasure of waiting on his father who was the personification of a gentleman. I wish him the best of luck in whatever other endeavors he chooses.