Gio Urshela Announces Retirement

For Gio Urshela, 2019 will remain a significant year in his life.

The former Yankees infielder announced his retirement on Monday after a decade-long career, marked by two standout seasons in New York.

At 34, Urshela had signed a minor league contract with the Twins prior to the season. However, he didn’t make the opening roster, having spent time playing for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic.

In an emotional Instagram post, he expressed, “Today is the day. A day I never dreamed of, never imagined, never expected to come…but deep in my heart, I know it will come someday. Today marks the end of this chapter for me as a professional athlete. This is not a moment of sadness, but a moment of gratitude to God for allowing me to play this beautiful sport that has changed my life.”

Urshela’s journey began with the Guardians and Blue Jays, but it truly shifted when the Yankees acquired him from Toronto for cash in 2018.

His breakout season epitomized the 2019 Yankees, who were characterized by contributions from several lesser-known players.

Entering that year with a career bWAR of -1.2, Urshela flourished. He boasted a stellar .314/.355/.534 batting line, hit 21 home runs, and drove in 74 RBIs, resulting in a bWAR of 3.8.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he managed an OPS of .858 over 43 games. However, by 2021, his performance dipped significantly, with an OPS of just .720.

During that offseason, the Yankees made a controversial move, trading for Josh Donaldson and sending Urshela, along with Gary Sanchez, to the Twins.

Donaldson struggled in New York, while Urshela found himself moving around. Over the last four seasons, he played for five teams, including the Twins, Angels, Tigers, and Braves, eventually landing with the Athletics last season.

Throughout these final years, Urshela recorded a .697 OPS, which included a disappointing .613 last season with the Athletics.

As a career infielder, he maintained a batting average of .270, an on-base percentage of .314, a slugging percentage of .407, and a total fielding percentage of .972.

Reflecting on his career, he wrote, “Through baseball, I have met some amazing people who have contributed tremendously to my career and shaped me into the person I am today. Thank you to my parents and siblings, whom I love so much, for being there during the difficult moments that we were able to overcome together.”