Veteran pitcher Alex Wood announced his retirement on Friday, ending a notable 12-season career in Major League Baseball.
The 34-year-old lefty made one All-Star team and celebrated a World Series victory during his time in the league.
Wood shared his sentiments through touching posts on social media.
“Every decision I’ve made over half my life has revolved around how it would impact my baseball career,” Wood reflected. “I dedicated everything to realizing my dream of playing in the majors. Over 12 years, I reached the postseason seven times, won the World Series, and earned an All-Star selection.”
Starting his journey in Georgia, Wood was drafted by the Braves in 2012 and debuted with them in 2013 at just 22 years old.
He later joined the Dodgers after achieving a solid 3.10 ERA across 86 games with the Braves, spending four seasons (2015-2018) in Los Angeles.
His standout year came in 2017, when he made 25 starts, posted a career-best 2.72 ERA, and received his only All-Star nod.
After a stint with the Reds in 2019, he returned to the Dodgers in 2020, playing a crucial role in their World Series win while not allowing a run in four innings.
Wood joined the Giants at 30, showcasing solid performance over three seasons before wrapping up his career in 2024.
“Thank you to the Braves, Dodgers, Reds, Giants, Track and Field, and the amazing fans,” he expressed. “I will always cherish being part of these five franchises and their communities.”
In his farewell, he also expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, family, and agency.
“Baseball was my first love. Aside from God and my family, nothing has shaped me like this game,” he reminisced. “Writing this makes me smile, thinking about how much this sport loves the game.”
“To everyone who helped make this dream come true—if you’re wondering if this is about you, it is. I love you and thank you.”
