Atlanta Braves: Brandon McCarthy announces he’ll retire at season’s end
By Nick Reid
Major League Baseball loses one of its best social media personalities and most genuine people as Atlanta Braves pitcher Brandon McCarthy announces his intention to retire at the end of the season.
As first reported by Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Atlanta Braves pitcher Brandon McCarthy announced on Tuesday that he plans to retire at the end of the 2018 season as a result of a nagging knee injury.
The conclusion of the Braves’ season will cap off a remarkable 13-year career for McCarthy, and even though his time in the Majors was plagued with injuries, he is a veteran who’s earned respect throughout the Majors.
McCarthy has 1,223 2/3 innings and 69 wins under his belt and has admirable career numbers with a 4.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 908 strikeouts, and 92 quality starts among his 197 career starts.
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Not only is Atlanta the last stop of McCarthy’s big league career, but it’s also his seventh as he’s previously suited up for the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team that got the most out of McCarthy was the Yankees, who acquired him at the 2014 trade deadline. Even though McCarthy’s stint in the Bronx was shorter than his time with any other team, it was in pinstripes where he put up his best numbers. In 90 1/3 innings, he had a 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 1.30 BB/9, and 6.31 K/BB, which are all career-bests.
“Mac” has been a starter for most of his career, but hopes to overcome his knee tendonitis in time to help the Atlanta Braves as a bullpen piece for the last month of the regular season as Atlanta looks to stave off the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League East crown. As of Wednesday afternoon, Atlanta sits 2 games ahead of the second-place Phils.
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The Braves haven’t made the playoffs since 2013, and McCarthy will do his best to overcome his knee issues long enough to contribute for the Atlanta Braves down the stretch.