MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Outfielder Alex Kirilloff of the Minnesota Twins announced his retirement on Thursday at the young age of 26, following a string of injuries that ultimately prevented him from reaching his full potential. Kirilloff was a first-round draft pick in 2016 and showed great promise early in his career.
In the 2023 season, Kirilloff was restricted to just 57 games due to a persistent lower back injury. He ended the season with a batting average of .201, hitting five home runs, driving in 20 runs, and achieving a .653 OPS. His last game was played on June 11.
After being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul, Kirilloff experienced increased pain in his lower back, accompanied by nerve-related discomfort in his leg. He admitted that he had downplayed the severity of his injury to continue playing, but it soon became clear that he wouldn’t recover in time to return to the field.
During a video conference with reporters, Kirilloff revealed he was diagnosed with a chronic stress fracture and a slipping vertebra, a condition that could require up to a year for complete rehabilitation.
Reflecting on his career, Kirilloff stated, “It just comes to the point where you have to ask yourself, ‘Should I be playing, and how does it affect my quality of life down the road?’” This introspection led him to make a difficult decision about his future.
In 2023, Kirilloff delivered his best performance across four seasons in the major leagues, batting .270 with 11 home runs over 88 games. While he primarily played first base that year, he has spent most of his career as a corner outfielder or designated hitter.
Kirilloff, who hails from Pennsylvania, shared that he had been contemplating his future for quite some time and had finally reached a resolution over the past few weeks. “These challenges have taken a toll on me mentally and physically. Over time, I’ve realized that my passion for playing the game has shifted. Baseball demands an ‘all-in’ approach, something I’ve brought to every season,” Kirilloff explained in a social media post. “However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I’ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.”
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