Kevin Youkilis set to retire

Following a ten year MLB career and a season in Japan, Kevin Youkilis will reportedly hang up his cleats and is set to retire instead of pursuing a contract on the free agent market. Youkilis has dealt with a number of health issues in recent years and will instead look to spend more time with his family, according to a Tweet from his representatives at Pro Star Management.

An 8th Round pick in the 2001 Draft by the Boston Red Sox, Youkilis first started to develop a reputation during his minor league career after teams began to notice his unusual ability to work counts and draw walks. His notoriety became so prevalent that he earned the nickname “the Greek God of Walks”, finding himself squarely in the focus of opposing organizations and specifically that of Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane. By the 2004 season he’d earned his way up to the major leagues.

Youkilis was a part time player for Boston in 2004 and 2005, before ultimately working his way into the team’s starting lineup for the 2006 season. There he’d remain until midway through the 2012 campaign. In parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox, Youkilis batted a collective .287/.388/.487 in just short of 4,000 plate appearances while picking up a Gold Glove at third base, appearing in three All Star Games, and twice finishing in the Top 10 in MVP voting.

He was also instrumental in the team’s 2007 World Series Championship run, particularly against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. Youkilis batted .500/.576/.929 in that series, adding three home runs, to help lead Boston to a matchup with the Colorado Rockies and their second set of rings in the decade.

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Injuries began to catch up to Youkilis in 2012, notably concerns with his lower back from a herniated disk. By late June the team had seen enough, dealing him to the Chicago White Sox in return for a pair of players who ultimately made little impact on the Boston roster (utilityman Brent Lillibridge and right-hander Zach Stewart). He’d bounce back in Chicago, batting .236/.346/.425 in 344 PA while adding 15 home runs. It was enough to earn him a solid one year deal on the free agent market following the season, agreeing to join the New York Yankees for $12 million. Youkilis’ tenure in New York, however, was a brief one. He’d appear in just 28 games in 2013 before being shut down to a recurrence of his back injury, hitting just .218/.305/.343 in 118 PA.

Following the 2013 season, there appeared to be little demand for Youkilis on the open market. He’d end up signing a one year deal to join the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan – something he said at the time was simply an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up for his family. His back once again became an issue, limiting him just 21 games and 79 plate appearances (he hit .215/.342/.323 with one home run) in what looks to have been his final season playing professionally.

Youkilis finishes his career with a .281/.382/.478 line, 150 home runs, and a pair of World Series rings.