Latest news with #JakeDiekman
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Jake Diekman ends 13-year MLB career, bids farewell after pitching for nine franchises
After 13 seasons and nine teams, Jake Diekman steps away from Major League Baseball (Getty Images) Jake Diekman, the gritty left-handed reliever known for his sharp strikeout ability and dependable bullpen presence, has officially retired from Major League Baseball. After 13 seasons and stints with nine different teams, Diekman has decided to hang up his cleats, closing the chapter on a career marked by perseverance, versatility, and an unwavering love for the game. Jake Diekman wraps up 13-year MLB career Jake Diekman's announcement came through an emotional social media post, where the 38-year-old expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported him along the way. 'The time has come for me to retire as a Major League Baseball player,' Diekman shared on X. 'Thank you, God, for this life and being able to live out my wildest dream… 'Making it' to the big leagues seemed like such a pipe dream.' Diekman's journey to the majors was anything but conventional. Drafted in the 30th round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, he overcame long odds to debut in 2012. Remarkably, he had no high school baseball team to represent, relying solely on summer legion ball to hone his craft. That unlikely path laid the foundation for a blue-collar career, earning him respect across clubhouses and fanbases alike. Statistically, Diekman's MLB run speaks volumes. He ends his career with a 3.91 ERA, 764 strikeouts in just over 600 innings, and a strikeout rate of nearly 29%. His 187 holds rank third in all of baseball since 2012, and while he recorded only 19 saves, his ability to deliver in high-leverage situations was never in doubt. Though his final MLB season with the Mets in 2024 wasn't reflective of his prime—posting a 5.63 ERA over 43 outings—Diekman's earlier tenures with the Rangers and Athletics proved crucial in postseason pushes and bullpen stability. His postseason presence, fearless mound demeanor, and locker room leadership were assets beyond the box score. Following his release by the Atlanta Braves in March, Diekman briefly joined the independent Lincoln SaltDogs before ultimately announcing his retirement. Now, with his playing days behind him, the baseball world waits to see where his journey heads next. Whether it's coaching, broadcasting, or community work, his deep experience and authentic passion for the sport make him a natural fit for continued impact off the field. Jake Diekman may not have been an All-Star, but his career was undeniably valuable—an inspiring testament to hard work, resilience, and dreaming big even when the odds say otherwise. Also Read: Ronald Acuna Jr. smashes a home run in first plate appearance after injury, celebrates with Ja Morant grenade Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Left-hander Jake Diekman is retiring after making 705 relief appearances in 13-year career
Left-handed reliever Jake Diekman is retiring after a 13-year MLB career in which he made 705 appearances for nine teams. 'The time has come for me to retire as a Major League Baseball player,' Diekman said Friday in an X post. 'Thank you, God, for this life and being able to live out my wildest dream.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Mets reliever Jake Diekman announces retirement after 13 seasons
Former Mets reliever Jake Diekman announced his retirement late Friday. "The time has come for me to retire as a Major League Baseball player," Diekman wrote in a social media post. "Thank you, God, for this life and being able to live out my wildest dream." Advertisement Diekman was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, where he spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his career. The 38-year-old would go on to pitch for the Rangers, Diamondbacks, Royals, Athletics, Red Sox, White Sox, Rays before landing in Queens to play for the Mets in 2024. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves this offseason but did not break camp with the team. He was later released by the organization in March. "To the Diamondbacks, Royals, Athletics, Red Sox, White Sox, Rays and Mets, it was an honor to wear each and every uniform," he wrote. "The goal was always to try and win, not just for the front office and organization, but also for your city." Diekman appeared in 705 career games, amassing a 27-34 record and a 3.91 ERA. He closed 19 games and struck out 764 batters across 602.1 innings. Last season with the Mets, he made 43 appearances, pitching to a 5.63 ERA and closing four games. Advertisement His most memorable Mets moment came during last year's Subway Series. On July 23, Diekman was called upon to hold a one-run lead against the Yankees in the ninth. The left-hander walked Juan Soto with out, allowing Aaron Judge to come up to the plate as the winning run. Diekman got to a 2-2 count and challenged Judge with an inside fastball that the soon-to-be AL MVP would swing through for the second out. Diekman would get Ben Rice to ground out to finish off the 3-2 win.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Left-hander Jake Diekman is retiring after making 705 relief appearances in 13-year career
Left-handed reliever Jake Diekman is retiring after a 13-year MLB career in which he made 705 appearances for nine teams. 'The time has come for me to retire as a Major League Baseball player,' Diekman said Friday in an X post. 'Thank you, God, for this life and being able to live out my wildest dream.' The 38-year-old Diekman hadn't pitched in the majors this year and went 2-3 with a 5.63 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the New York Mets last season. The Atlanta Braves released him in spring training. He posted a 27-34 record, 19 saves and a 3.91 ERA during a career that included stops with the Philadelphia Phillies (2012-15), Texas Rangers (2015-18), Arizona Diamondbacks (2018), Kansas City Royals (2019), Oakland Athletics (2019-21), Boston Red Sox (2022), Chicago White Sox (2022-23), Tampa Bay Rays (2023) and Mets (2024). During his time with the Phillies, Diekman teamed with Cole Hamels, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon on a no-hitter in a 7-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 1, 2014. Diekman pitched the seventh inning of that game. Diekman went 1-5 with one save and a 4.15 ERA in 14 career postseason appearances. In his retirement announcement, Diekman thanked his former teammates, coaches, trainers and staffers. He also thanked each of the organizations for which he played. He also credited the schools he played for before beginning his pro career. 'From being in kindergarten and writing down that I wanted to be a baseball player when I grow up, to not even having a high school baseball team and just playing Legion in the summer, 'making it' to the big leagues seemed like such a pipe dream,' Diekman said. 'From American Legion to Doane College to Cloud County Community College, I could not have asked for better spots to be. Those were some of the best times on the field. Those early years in high school and college is where you learn what it actually takes to be your best, grind out a game and learn to fail.' ___ AP MLB:
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former Phillies, Mets, Red Sox Pitcher Announces Retirement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jake Diekman has announced his retirement, ending a career that began in 2012 and saw him pitch for nine major league teams over 13 seasons. The left-hander did not sign a contract after he was released by the Atlanta Braves in March, and on Friday announced he won't seek another. More news: Red Sox Make Trade, Acquire Slugging First Baseman/Outfielder From Angels "The time has come for me to retire as a Major League Baseball player," Diekman wrote in a post on his Twitter/X account. "Thank you, God, for this life and being able to live out my wildest dream. From being in kindergarten and writing down that I wanted to be a baseball player when I grow up, to not even having a high school baseball team and just playing legion in the summer. 'Making it' to the big leagues seemed like such a pipe dream." More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.
