Longtime Cardinals Pitcher Announces Sudden Retirement From MLB
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Mike Mayers, a relief pitcher who appeared in parts of eight seasons (2016-23) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals, announced his retirement from baseball Wednesday in a post to his LinkedIn account.
"After 12 incredible years in professional baseball, including parts of 8 seasons in the big leagues with the Cardinals, Angels, and Royals, I'm officially hanging up the cleats," Mayers wrote.
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Mayers had spent the 2024 season with the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate. He made 31 appearances for the Buffalo Bisons, including three starts, going 2-5 with a 6.10 ERA.
Mike Mayers #59 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kevin Newman #27 came around to score on an RBI single by Starling Marte #6 in the...
Mike Mayers #59 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kevin Newman #27 came around to score on an RBI single by Starling Marte #6 in the eighth inning during the game at PNC Park on September 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh. MoreMayers was released from his minor league contract by the Blue Jays on Aug. 2, 2024, and did not land a contract for the 2025 season with an affiliated team.
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In his last big-league season, Mayers made six appearances for the Kansas City Royals in 2023, going 1-2 with a 6.15 ERA. He allowed 19 runs (18 earned) and 34 hits in 26.1 innings.
Mayers was designated for assignment by the Royals in June 2023, and traded to the Chicago White Sox a month later. He finished the season with Chicago's Triple-A affiliate.
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Mayers' return to Missouri came 10 years after he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2013 draft out of the University of Mississippi.
From 2016-19, Mayers shuttled back and forth between the majors and the minors. He appeared in 73 MLB games with the Cardinals — 72 in relief.
Mayers went 3-3 with a 7.03 ERA as a Cardinal, then was placed on waivers in November 2019 and claimed by the Los Angeles Angels.
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Mayers was the Angels' most reliable relief pitcher during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He made 29 appearances across 30 innings out of the bullpen, both team-highs, and posted a sterling 2.10 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 30 innings.
The 2021 season saw Mayers make a career-best 72 appearances, posting a solid 3.84 ERA (117 ERA+) and striking out 90 batters in 75 innings.
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But Mayers struggled to follow up that performance in 2022. He went 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in 24 games, including three starts. His strikeout rate dipped below one per inning, and the Angels designated him for assignment twice during the season.
Mayers elected free agency after the 2023 season and signed with the Royals in December. He retires with a career record of 12-11 with a 5.21 ERA.
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