Washington Nationals: Howie Kendrick announces retirement after 15 seasons

Howie Kendrick spent 15 seasons in the MLB, winning the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals.

After 15 seasons in the MLB across four different teams, Howie Kendrick announced his retirement from the league on Monday. And, despite spending just four seasons with the Washington Nationals, Kendrick will be remembered as a playoff hero that helped bring home the franchise’s first-ever World Series title in 2019.

The 37-year-old Kendrick took to Instagram to announce his decision, thanking the fans and teams of the four teams he spent his 15-year career with.

“To the fans, without your support and love for the game, our stage and lights would not shine as brightly as they do. Know you will be missed as well. I will always love the game of baseball and will constantly reflect on the lifelong memories made. For now, it’s time to drop the mic and enter a new stage of my life,” said Kendrick.

Kendrick kicked off his career with the Los Angeles Angels back in 2002. The Angels drafted him in the 10th round of that year’s June Draft. The primary second baseman and utility defender spent nine years in Los Angeles, including an AL All-Star selection in 2011.

After bouncing around for three seasons between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, Kendrick finally found a home in Washington in 2017. He enjoyed a breakout 2019 campaign, hitting .344 after coming back from an Achilles injury the year prior. Kendrick then cemented his Nationals’ legacy in that 2019 postseason.

He went on to win the Most Valuable Player Award of the 2019 NLCS with the defining moment coming from a go-ahead, 10th-inning grand slam in Game 5 against the Dodgers. He also added another go-ahead two-run homer in Game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros. His 12 RBIs and two home runs were crucial in propelling Washington to that coveted championship.

“Last but not least, my Beloved Washington Nationals, thank you for embracing me as one of your own,” Kendrick said. “I feel as though I’d been a National my whole career and the wild, humbling and crazy ride we had in 2019 truly culminated everything I’d learned in my career, and we all became World Champions.”

Throughout his career, Kendrick recorded a .294/.337/.430 hitting line with 127 home runs and 724 RBIs.

“A dream that started as a 5 yr old boy in the town of Callahan, Florida,” said Kendrick. “I will be forever grateful for the many life lessons baseball has taught me on this 32 yr journey.”