Former All-Star, World Series champ Alex Wood retires after 12 MLB seasons
The 34-year-old lefty played 12 seasons in the big leagues, made one All-Star appearance and won one World Series.
Wood made his retirement official in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Advertisement
4 Alex Wood began his career with the Braves.
Getty Images
'For over half my life, every decision I've made has centered around how it would impact my baseball career,' Wood wrote. 'I've given every ounce of myself in pursuit of my lifelong dream of becoming a big leaguer. Playing 12 years in the show, reaching 7 postseasons, winning a World Series, and earning an All-Star selection — I never could've imagined it would turn out this way.'
After a collegiate career at Georgia, Wood stayed local after being drafted by the Braves in the second round in 2012. He then made his debut for Atlanta in 2013 at 22 years old.
Advertisement
4 Alex Wood spent five total seasons with the Dodgers.
AP
Wood posted a superb 3.10 ERA across 86 games with the Braves before being traded to Los Angeles, where he'd spend the next four seasons (2015-18) with the Dodgers.
In 2017, he made 25 starts for Los Angeles, posted a career-best 2.72 ERA and got his only All-Star nod of his career.
Wood spent 2019 with the Reds before returning to the Dodgers in 2020 and winning the World Series, pitching four innings in the Fall Classic and allowing no runs.
Advertisement
4 Alex Wood helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series.
Getty Images
He joined the Giants at 30 years old and spent three solid seasons there before finishing his career with the Athletics in 2024.
'To the Braves, Dodgers, Reds, Giants and Athletics — and your incredible fans — THANK YOU,' Wood wrote. 'Playing for five iconic franchises and becoming part of those communities is something my family and I will always cherish.'
Wood also penned his emotional gratitude for his teammates, coaches, wife, parents, sons and his agency.
Advertisement
4 Alex Wood spent 12 years in MLB.
Getty Images
'Baseball was my first love. Outside of God and my family, nothing else has shaped me the way this game has,' he added. 'Even writing this, I can't help but smile thinking about how much I still love the game after all this time.
'To everyone who helped make this dream a reality that I couldn't begin to list — if you think this is about you — IT IS. I love you and thank you. Cheers to what's next. See you at the park!'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
2 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Roger Clemens returns to Yankee Stadium, questions about Mike Piazza bat-throwing incident resurface
NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Clemens came back to Yankee Stadium on Saturday, and so did the questions about his bat-throwing incident with Mike Piazza in the World Series 25 years earlier. Piazza was batting against Clemens in the first inning of Game 2 of the 2000 World Series when his bat shattered along the first-base line. Clemens picked up part of it and fired it toward the Hall of Fame catcher. Clemens made his debut in the Yankees' Old-Timers' Day game on Saturday and faced four batters in the first exhibition game of the event since 2019. His manager on the 2000 championship team defended the pitcher's actions in that at-bat against Piazza. 'There's still a question with the broken bat, with Piazza and the whole thing in Game 2,' Joe Torre said at the podium right as Clemens walked in. 'I think if Mike knew that the ball was foul, he wouldn't have been starting to run to first base. That ball went over the first base dugout, was foul right away. He didn't know where it was, so he started running.' Clemens made his first appearance as the Yankees honored the 2000 team, the last team to win three straight titles. Clemens heard a nice hand from the crowd as a montage of his highlights played on the center field video board — but omitted his famous toss at Piazza. 'I didn't know he was running and Mike said that same thing, too,' Clemens said. 'He didn't know where the baseball was. So my first instinct when I shattered that bat in about four pieces, I thought it was a baseball coming at me.' The Yankees went a combined 22-3 in the 1998 and 1999 postseasons, but struggled at times in 2000, losing 15 of their final 18 regular-season games, before outlasting the A's by winning a Game 5 on the road in the Division Series. After beating Seattle in a six-game ALCS, the Yankees beat the Mets in a five-game Fall Classic where every game was decided by two runs or fewer. Clemens joined the Yankees in a trade with Toronto during spring training in 1999. He was 14-10 with a 4.60 ERA in 1999 and then 13-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 2000. During the postseason, Clemens won three games, including Game 2 against the Mets. 'When he was on the other team, you didn't like him very much,' Torre said. After two seasons of an on-field question and answer session with radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, the game returned and Johnny Damon hit an RBI single off Clemens. Clemens was among several 2000 Yankees at the event that did not feature former captain Derek Jeter. Jeter delivered a taped video message after Mariano Rivera was the final player introduced. 'He was in spring training,' fellow pitcher Andy Pettitte said of Clemens. 'So it was good to see him in spring training and then of course here. A huge part of our 2000 team and it was good.' The only former player not introduced was current manager Aaron Boone, whose team entered Saturday with six losses in seven games. A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Clemens went 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts, third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Randy Johnson (4,875). In two stints with the Yankees, Clemens was 83-42 with a 4.01 ERA and retired after the 2007 season. He was named in the Mitchell Report in December 2007 and has denied PED usage. In his final year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot in 2022, Clemens received 257 votes (65.2%). Besides members of the 2000 team, Willie Randolph, Graig Nettles, Chris Chambliss, Ron Guidry, Bucky Dent and Mickey Rivers were introduced as members of the 1977 and 1978 World Series teams. The widows of five-time manager Billy Martin, captain Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer were also introduced as part of an event that began in 1947 when Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth first appeared.
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
Sixers' Allen Iverson sends message to Carmelo Anthony ahead of Hall of Fame induction
After a decade of representing the Philadelphia 76ers, Allen Iverson left the franchise to join the Denver Nuggets in December 2006. Iverson teamed up with scoring sensation Carmelo Anthony, as the Western Conference franchise aimed to challenge for a championship. It's no surprise that Iverson's debut season in Denver coincided with Anthony's first career All-Star appearance. Now, 19 years later, Iverson and Anthony will team up once again, only this time, it will be with the Sixers' legend inducting his former teammate into the 2025 Hall of Fame. Anthony selected Iverson and Dwayne Wade as the two stars to induct him into the NBA's history books. On Friday, August 8, Iverson shared a message for Anthony via Instagram. "Congratulations Bro! I'm HONORED and blessed to be chosen to welcome you into the Hall of Fame!" Iverson wrote in the caption. Anthony will be joined by Dwight Howard, Billy Donovan, Mickey Arison, Sue Bird and Maya Moore as the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Iverson spent 10 seasons with the Sixers, playing in 682 regular-season games and averaging 28 points, 6.1 assists and 4 rebounds while shooting 42.1% from the field. And, while seeing Iverson and Anthony together again will likely be a bitter pill to swallow for some Sixers fans, the fact that they get to see a franchise legend back on their TV, even in a non-playing role, should be enough to get them excited.
New York Post
31 minutes ago
- New York Post
Mookie Betts gets brutally honest about his ugly 2025: ‘This season's over'
Mookie Betts, a superstar having a very un-superstar-like season, has taken a new approach to this forgettable year. 'This season's over,' Betts said Friday, according to The Athletic. 'My season's kind of over. We're going to have to chalk that up for not a great season.' It's a way of framing his frustration and starting over. Betts knows he's not going to have his typical numbers, not when he is sporting a .688 OPS in August, with just 12 homers and 51 RBIs. He's never finished a season with an OPS less than .803 and hit a career-high 39 home runs just two seasons ago. Advertisement Dodgers star Mookie Betts reacts in the dugout. AP 'But I can go out and help the boys win every night, do something, get an RBI, make a play, do something that — I'm going to have to shift my focus there,' the 32-year-old Betts said. 'Obviously everyone wants to have great seasons, but it's a lot easier when you just don't worry about the season. You just worry about game to game. I'll take this perspective for the rest of my career.' Manager Dave Roberts has remained in Betts' corner, hitting him near the top of the order despite his offensive woes. Advertisement An eight-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner a year ago, Betts did have a strong game Friday night, going deep for the first time since July 5 in a 5-1 win over the AL East-leading Blue Jays. His three RBIs were his most since April 30. Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez celebrating a home run. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Advertisement Maybe that can get him going — he has hit safely in three consecutive games. Baby steps for the former MVP. The Dodgers could certainly use a vintage Betts, with the Padres only three games behind them in the NL West.
