Long-time utility player Charlie Culberson announced his retirement in an Instagram post today. He gave his thanks to his fans, coaches, teammates, agent, friends and family members for all the contributions they made to his journey. He also spoke to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his career and what might be next. He has considered coaching and broadcasting but thinks the latter is more likely.
Now 35, Culberson was drafted by the Giants in 2007 out of high school at the age of 18, going 51st overall. He developed into a notable prospect, getting attention for his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game and at many positions. He made it to the majors with that club in cup-of-coffee fashion. He got into six games during the 2012 season and hit a meager .136/.136/.136 in his 23 plate appearances.
He was sent to the Rockies in the July 2012 trade that sent Marco Scutaro and cash considerations the other way. With Colorado, Culberson was able to get a bit more playing time, serving as a light-hitting utility guy. Over the 2013 and 2014 seasons, he got into 142 games for the Rockies, hitting .227/.273/.327 while playing all four infield positions and the outfield corners.
2015 was mostly a lost season for Culberson. He had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back and didn’t play in the majors. He tells Toscano that he started thinking about his post-playing days at that time, as he didn’t know if any club would want him after the long layoff.
However, his best days as a player were still ahead. He had lost his roster spot with the Rockies and became a free agent, signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers going into 2016. His role with that club was fairly similar to his time in Colorado. He got into 49 games for the Dodgers over the 2016 and 2017 seasons, slashing .263/.289/.350 while bouncing between the outfield corners and the three infield positions to the left of first base. Perhaps the most memorable moment of his time in Los Angeles saw him hit a walk-off, 10th inning home run to clinch the West division for the club that year (YouTube clip from MLB). He also hit an extra-inning home run in Game Two of the 2017 World Series to pull the Dodgers within 7-6, though the Astros would keep the score there and win that game (YouTube clip from MLB).
In December of 2017, Culberson went to Atlanta in five-play swap largely motivated by financial considerations. Matt Kemp was sent to the Dodgers while Culberson, Adrián González, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy went the other way. This kicked off what was arguably the best part of Culberson’s career. A Georgia native, he became a fan favorite in Atlanta after hitting a couple of pinch-hit walk-off homers, earning the nickname “Charlie Clutch” (YouTube clips of those walk-offs from MLB).
Over the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, Culberson got into 221 contests for Atlanta and produced a league-average batting line of .267/.316/.457. As usual, he bounced all around the diamond, playing all four infield spots, the outfield corners, and even taking the mound for mop-up duty a few times. He was non-tendered after that 2019 season and re-signed with Atlanta for 2020 on a minors deal, eventually getting into 10 games in the shortened season.
He spent 2021 and 2022 with the Rangers, doing his usual utility thing. He hit .246/.292/.373 in 161 games over those two campaigns while playing every position except for center field and catcher. He was back in Atlanta for 2023 but bounced on and off the roster and only got one plate appearance. It was reported in January of this year that he was going to attempt to move to the mound and signed another minors deal with Atlanta, but he was released in March. He tells Toscano that he knew he was done at that time.
Culberson wasn’t a star player but clearly endeared himself to many fans by his still of play and penchant for coming through when it counted most. He got into 590 big league games and stepped to the plate 1,312 times. He collected 300 hits, including 30 home runs. He scored 140 runs, drove in 145 and stole 21 bases. Per Baseball Reference, he earned a bit over $5MM as a big leaguer. MLBTR salutes him on a fine career and wishes him luck for whatever is over the horizon.
Met him at Redbirds park in Memphis and he was super nice guy. I am dodgers fan and we talked about that home run. Best wishes
Got to live the dream and had some nice hits. Congrats!
Charlie will have some cool stories he can share with his grandkids about his MLB career
Scutaro got the Giants into the playoffs and played out of his mind like 94 Tony Gwynn for two months. I don’t think they win the World Series in 2012 without Culberson for Scutaro, so thanks Charlie!
Giants won two after he vowed to make them sorry for trading him. Don’t think they regret that decision. Loser!
Remind me how long your MLB career was?
Curt Shilling burner confirmed, blocked again.
Easy there, killer. It was a great trade for all parties involved.
I’ll always remember that ‘23 season when he did indeed bounce on and off the roster several times while having just one AB all year. Snitker just refused to use him.
The GOAT.
He has 26 years until he’s eligible for social security.
He can start collecting MLB benefits at 45 but won’t be that much. He does not appear to have enough to be fully vested and even if he was a player must wait to 65 to get the full $275,000/year. Has enough time for the health plan though
Yeah, he didn’t reach the full 10 years to vest into the full pension. Former players can add to their service time by being a coach, and maybe even a broadcaster.
That’s what I meant when I said he wouldn’t be fully vested. 10 seasons of service, which includes a minimum of 173 days per year on the active roster or injured list is hard to do. Average payout is about $90,000/years as most don’t fully vest or wait until 65.
I never saw anything about being a coach or broadcaster….will have to re-read the docs.
I meant to add, for those who don’t know, that 43 days of service, qualifies for 2.5% of the max payout. Every additional 43 days will accrue another 2.5% and so on until a player hits 10 years of service.
Was also having a brain fart…coach managers etc are part of the plan but I am 99% certain that broadcaster isn’t.
He is hawt.
lol, linked thread about the Scutaro trade has me from 12 years ago first cracking a joke about how low Scutaro’s stock had fallen and then having to eat my words when he went on to win NLCS MVP. Good job 2012 me.
Emphasis on LONG-TIME utility player. If we all were so lucky who had the dream.
Making the show is almost impossible. He did it and was a fan favorite. I remember rooting for him. Lucky guy!!! Next…
dodger legend. thanks for the memories.
Kinda weird being a dodger and giant legend
He was clutch n fans loved em wherever he went. Good luck !
Sounds like a natural addition for some part time Braves pre- and post-game analyst slots.
Charlie was clutch for the Braves. I especially remember a play from a few years ago where his herculean throw from left field to the plate miraculously preserved a Braves win in the bottom of the 9th and ended the game.
Soon after that he was interviewed by a Braves announcer who called him the “heart and soul” of the team. That was a fact. It choked him up.
Carry on Charlie. You did yourself proud.
Does it feel to anyone else like Charlie’s been a Brave since the Andres Thomas, Ken Oberkfell days?
Truly Charlie was loved by many Braves fans (and fans of other teams, I see). There is a beautiful article about Charlie written by Justin Toscano that’s linked in the first paragraph. It’s definitely worth a read.
2017 World Series Champion Charlie Culberson
I liked him and wish him well.
While not a great player, guys like him are essential to teams, best wishes.
Bon voyage Charlie Clutch.
“endeared himself to many fans by his still of play” odd use of still.
Unscored upon in his last seven outings.