Veteran infielder Kolten Wong announced his retirement from professional baseball earlier today at his alma mater, University of Hawaii, as relayed by Brian McInnis of Spectrum News. Wong was in town to throw out the first pitch at a game against UC San Diego.
“Pretty much right now, I’m done,” Wong said, as relayed by McInnis. “I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that I’m probably going to be hanging them up. It’s just one of those things where, the game how it’s going now, there’s no sense of chasing (it). … I’m a dad now, yes, I’m enjoying that. I’m trying to be the best big league dad that I can be. So I’m going to stick to that.”
A veteran of 11 MLB seasons, the 34-year-old Wong was drafted 22nd overall by the Cardinals back in 2011. He made his way to the majors for a brief cup of coffee just two years later, but his big league career began in earnest during the 2014 season. That year, Wong appeared in 113 games for the Cardinals and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Jacob deGrom and Billy Hamilton after slashing .249/.292/.388 in 433 trips to the plate while playing second base exclusively for St. Louis. Wong would go on as a roughly average regular with the Cards for a few years, getting a brief look in the outfield during the 2016 season to accommodate occasional reps at the position for Matt Carpenter and Jedd Gyorko but otherwise remaining locked in as the club’s everyday second baseman thanks to nearly average offense (92 wRC+) and fantastic defense at the keystone.
Wong enjoyed something of a breakout during his age-26 season with the Cardinals in 2017, as he slashed .285/.376/.412 with a 108 wRC+. It was his best offensive season to that point in his career, and while injuries limited him to just 108 games that year he would turn in above average results overall at the plate from the start of that season onward. That was a fortuitous step forward for the Cardinals, seeing as it came in just the second year of a five-year, $25.5MM extension the sides agreed to prior to the 2016 season. Wong hit a combined .273/.356/.398 (104 wRC+) while playing stellar defense over the course of his final four years in St. Louis, even earning Gold Glove awards for his work at second base during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Aside from that solid regular season production, Wong departed St. Louis with a solid postseason resume, having slashed .206/.243/.464 with five homers, four stolen bases, eight doubles, and a triple in 104 postseason plate appearances for the Cards. The Cardinals ultimately declined Wong’s 2021 club option and allowed him to test free agency in order to create an everyday spot in the lineup for utility man Tommy Edman. Wong eventually signed with the Brewers on a two-year, $18MM guarantee that came with a club option for the 2023 season. Wong’s defensive numbers took a step back during his time in Milwaukee as he entered his age-30 season, but his offense was better than ever as he hit a strong .262/.337/.439 (113 wRC+) across his two campaigns with the club.
Unlike the Cardinals before them, the Brewers did pick up his third year club option. With that being said, he still found himself in another uniform prior to the 2023 campaign as he was traded to the Mariners in a deal that brought Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro to Milwaukee. It’s a deal that didn’t work out for anyone, as none of those players were particularly effective for their new clubs. Wong struggled mightily during his time in Seattle, hitting just .165/.241/.227 across 67 games before he was released in early August.
Wong signed with the Dodgers on a minor league deal shortly thereafter, however, and managed to end his big league career on a high note as he slashed an impressive .300/.353/.500 (129 wRC+) over 20 games in Los Angeles before participating in the NLDS with the club. Headed into 2024, Wong signed briefly with both the Orioles and the Diamondbacks on minor league deals. He hit .271/.339/.383 in 121 trips to the plate for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno before being granted his release just under a year ago. He’s not played in affiliated ball since, and after going unsigned this offseason Wong has evidently decided to put his playing career behind him.
In all, Wong wraps his MLB career with a .256/.330/.390 career slash line, good for a roughly league average 97 wRC+. That triple slash comes across 1189 games and encapsulates a career that saw him collect 973 hits, 303 extra-base hits, 511 runs scored and 405 runs batted in. In addition to his aforementioned two Gold Glove awards and status as a Rookie of the Year finalist, Wong also received down-ballot consideration for the NL MVP award during the 2019 season. MLB Trade Rumors congratulates Wong on a fine career, and wishes him all the best in whatever comes next.
“Pretty much right now, I’m done,” Wong said, as relayed by McInnis. “I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that I’m probably going to be hanging them up.” This sounds more like an admission of reality than a retirement announcement.
Exactly. Kinda strange to call it a retirement announcement. Rather unprofessional, journalistically
This very much fits the definition of retirement, no matter how much of it was his own decision. I get that calling people out for “unprofessional” journalism has become a trendy thing, but that’s far from what MLBTR is doing here.
“I’m trying to be the best big league dad that I can be. So I’m going to stick to that.” Seems pretty clear he’s retiring.
Yeah I remember getting hit with that dose of reality.
Unfortunately for Kolton, you’ve hit the nail on the head!!!
Kolton was extremely above average glove man defensively but had a little hot dog in him ——- that sometimes got him in trouble on the field.
Kolton loved swinging for the home run ball.
That was probably his biggest mistake.
When Kolton first came up as a Cardinal, he concentrated on his stellar defense and being that Contact, line drive hitter with speed on the base paths, that got him into pro baseball!!
Kolton was a victim of a Poor hitting coach who was locked in on the launch angle for every Cardinals hitter. The launch angle wasn’t for Wong!!
He would have benefited himself and his teams by remaining with that contact hitting style with speed and superior defense.
Had he done that, in my opinion, his career could have been raised to another level as he progressed.
Right? If he hedged anymore he’d be a whole topiary.
“The way the game is going right now” What? Now overpaying for veterans that aren’t good anymore? Ala Anthony Rizzo?
I mean in his defense (not to be to on the point) he’s won a couple gold gloves and is/was typically very reliable on the defensive end. I imagine there could still be some value in him but conversely its hard to rationalize an aging vet with a very good glove and decent enough offensive numbers in a very part time role over a youngster filled with potential.
His defense was far from where it used to be when he was with the mariners
He’s done but he had some good years especially when he was young he was a good part of the Cardinals run. Solid player for many years nothing wrong with that
It seems like this comment comes up a lot from retiring players (and unsigned veterans). Could not possibly be one’s own degrading skillset, it must be “the way the game has changed.”
We don’t know if an injury played a role in how he performed in Seattle. Even if it didn’t and it was degrading skills, he showed that he could still play with LA. If all he got afterwards was minor league offers, then that does indicate “the way the game has changed.” When it’s all data-driven decisions, then the intangibles fall by the wayside. Look at the Orioles. They stink on both sides of the ball, and they have no veteran leadership amongst all those young players to help right the ship. A hard-nosed player like Wong could have helped, perhaps.
You’re right, they should’ve gotten a veteran presence like Charlie Morton in there to help…
Brother this comment is too soon for me xD
Charlie Morton fits the bill for the pitching staff, sure. He’s also 41 years old.
Hopefully he didn’t make the “Wong” decision LMAO!
You should’ve said this when the mariners traded/released him
Genius Level Comedic Chops
32 y.o., $52M earnings, 23 WAR, two GGs – dream career. Happy retirement!
Rock solid. Good for him. People are being petty here. Most would dream of his career.
“Wong departed St. Louis with a solid postseason resume, having slashed .206/.243/.464 with five homers, four stolen bases, eight doubles, and a triple in 104”
Man we really set the post season bar low with those averages
.700 OPS is playable no matter the era. A little lopsided but “solid” is a perfectly cromulent word for that output.
Pretty dang good career. 23 career bWAR and made over $50M.. Probably underpaid if anything…
Ah yes, Seattle, where 2nd basemen go to die…
Started out with Jeff cirillo back in the 2000s, then chone figgins, then Adam frazier, then kolten Wong, and jorge polanco almost died but he became a DH and was resurrected
Anyways while I don’t have fond memories of kolten wong he had a decent career
If it’s any consolation, they did slightly dodge Robbie Cano.
In fairness, after Cirillo, the Bret Boone era took over for a while. He was pretty good (18.9 bWAR over a three year span)
Interesting no mention of Harold Reynolds
He cashed $52 million in checks. Not shabby at all! Enjoy your retirement riches!
Appears that he is short of 10 years service. Hope that $26 mil (after taxes) gets him through.
Well, he still gets a pension. Just not the maximum payout.
Spotrac shows him at 10.045 years of service, so he is fully vested. Great career.
mlbplayers.com/10-years-service-time-2023?lightbox…
Great player for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod baseball league!
He has retired from professional baseball, Mike Dickinson.
Hard to believe that he’s going to be 35 later this year, but he’s had a pretty respectable career. Good for him if this really is the end of it.
This one is tough for me because I remember watching his debut, and it didn’t seem all that long ago. Time catches up to everyone, including me.
One of the few players (along with Tony Armas, Jack Clark, and Justin Smoak) that I’ve seen hit two homers in a game. I’ll always remember him for that.
Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario, and Luis Robert Jr. for me so far. I’m young.
What is Wong, what is wight! E. FUDD!🤣
Ask a Red Sox fan and they’ll tell you the wong Wong retired.
Reminds me of me
Enjoy your retirement Kolten. I enjoyed your play. You had a lot of enthusiasm and spark. Defensively you were sound. Good luck.
This guy built a solid career (and postseason reputation) despite a rocky start. Enjoy retirement.
He’s done cause no MLB wanted him – and rightfully so.
He has played for 4 MLB teams and retired after a 11-year career.
People know Kolten Wong more than some anonymous schmuck named “Mr. McNasty” – and rightfully so.
Resort to name calling – you lost.
how many MLBs are there?
My first memory of Kolten Wong will always be getting picked off to end a WS game by then Red Sox Koji Uehara.
Kolten was a good Cardinal and had some big hits with us in addition to flashing some stellar leather along the way.
He played the game hard and was a gritty player. Congratulations on a career to be proud of, Kolten, and thanks for the memories, sir!
RIP
If y’all interested he is currently being voted on for entrance into the hall of pretty good.