Former Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders has retired to become the manager of the Atlanta Braves entry in the Appalachian League.
The 2018 campaign must have been a rude awakening for Michael Saunders. The oft injured outfielder found himself as part of four different franchises that year, beginning with the Pirates. He had signed a minor league deal only to be released two days later. Saunders then signed with the Royals, but was released at the end of Spring Training. He then latched on to the Orioles and White Sox organizations, but only found his way into 38 games at AAA in total.
After sitting out the 2019 campaign following a release by the Rockies, Saunders appears ready to move on with his baseball journey. After he joins Team Canada for their quest to be a part of the 2020 Olympics, Saunders will retire and become a manager in the Atlanta Braves organization, beginning this stage of his career with their Appalachian League team.
At just 32 years old, it was expected that Saunders would still be a productive major league player. He had been a top prospect during his time in the Mariners system, ranking amongst the top 100 prospects for Baseball American and Baseball Prospectus. Saunders had excellent power and speed, a potential five tool player in the making.
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Instead, injuries ruined his career. In his nine seasons in the majors, Saunders appeared in 100 games just four times, and had only one season where he had at least 140 appearances. An All Star in 2016, Saunders produced a lifetime .232/.305/.397 batting line, hitting 81 homers and stealing 55 bases.
While he never fulfilled his potential, Saunders’ journey is one that could be beneficial in his new role. He has seen the heights, a wunderkind in the minors who appeared destined for greatness. He also saw the lows, the misery of injury after injury, and knows the work needed to get back.
That type of experience can be invaluable to a player beginning their journey through the minors. Presumably, Saunders would be one of the first professional managers that the younger Braves prospects would have, a key voice in molding the possible stars of the future. The habits learned there, in the Appalachian League, can follow a player for their career. Saunders will have a lot riding on his tutelage.
Michael Saunders’ playing days are coming to an end, but his baseball career is not over. Instead, he has begun a new direction, as he will manage the Atlanta Braves Appalachian League team in 2020.