Kyle Seager retires from MLB after 11 seasons with Mariners

Dec 29, 2021, 11:09 AM | Updated: 1:49 pm

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager waves to fans as teammates applaud behind as he leaves a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager throws out Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts on an infield ground ball during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Friday, Aug. 14, 2015.(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager makes a backhand grab of a hard bouncer during infield practice prior to a spring training baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Monday, March 9, 2015, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Seattle Mariners' Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Fernando Rodney and Kyle Seager, from left, hold All-Star jerseys in a presentation before the Mariners' baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, July 13, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager (15) slides past New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann to score on a Kyle Seager single during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 1, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager tosses his batting helmet as he heads home on his three-run walk-off home run against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Mariners won 5-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager throws to first on a bunt from Minnesota Twins' Brian Dozier in the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 27, 2013, in Seattle. Dozier was out on the play. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager hits a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Saturday, July 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael E. Keating)

Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager (15) is congratulated after scoring against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. Seager scored when Athletics pitcher Ryan Cook walked Mariners' Justin Smoak with the bases loaded. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager safely dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt by the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners second baseman Kyle Seager flips the ball from his glove to first on a grounder from Los Angeles Dodgers' Tony Gwynn in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Seattle. Gwynn was out on the play. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners' Nelson Cruz, right, celebrates with Kyle Seager (15) after hitting a two run home run off Oakland Athletics' Sean Manaea in the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Mariners greats Kyle Seager and Félix Hernández. (AP)

Kyle Seager and Mariners manager Scott Servais. (AP)

Kyle Seager during a Players Weekend game. (AP)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 10: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners watches his two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds to give the Seattle Mariners a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning during their game at T-Mobile Park on September 10, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager hit his 23rd home run in the final game of the 2019 season. (AP)

Kyle Seager trots home after hitting a home run. (Getty)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners fields the ball and throws to first base but is unable to get the out of Elvis Andrus #17 of the Oakland Athletics as he is called safe in the bottom of the fifth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on May 26, 2021 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 19: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners fields a ball during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on June 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 20: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 20, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 30: Dylan Moore #25 and Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after Moore's two run home run against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park on August 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 01: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after his double against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park on October 01, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

BY BRENT STECKER

Editor of SeattleSports.com

Mariners legend Kyle Seager is going out on a high note.

5 Kyle Seager moments we’ll remember from Mariners legend

Seager, the longest-tenured Mariners player on the team’s 2021 roster, announced his retirement from Major League Baseball in a statement released on his wife Julie Seager’s Twitter account on Wednesday morning. The one-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner hit free agency for the first time this offseason but will retire having spent his entire career with the M’s.

“Today I’m announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball,” Seager’s statement reads. “Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for following me throughout my career. It’s been a wonderful ride but I am unbelievably excited for the next chapter of my life.”

Kyle Seager. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/kG4mziZp29

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 18, 2021

In some ways, Seager had the biggest season of his 11-year MLB career in 2021, finishing with career-high numbers in home runs (35) and RBIs (101). He posted a slash line of .212/.285/.438 for an OPS of .723 while playing in 159 of the Mariners’ 162 games. Seattle went 90-72 in 2021, its best record since 2003 and the most wins since Seager arrived in 2011.

The Mariners signed Seager to a seven-year, $100 million contract extension in December 2014, four years after his MLB debut. With his retirement, that contract effectively made him a Mariner for life.

Seager’s name is all over the Mariners career leaderboards, including games played (1,480), hits (1,395) and home runs (242), each of which he ranks fourth all-time in team history. He finishes his career with at least 20 home runs in nine straight seasons – not counting the shortened 2020 campaign when he had nine, which put him on pace for 24 homers in a full 162-game season. He also was an ironman, playing 154 games or more in eight of his nine full seasons following his July 2011 MLB debut.

Among many notable accomplishments in his career, Seager hit three home runs in a game against Detroit in 2019, homered in the same game as his brother, then-Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, and made a diving stop that preserved James Paxton’s no-hitter in 2018.

Kyle Seager’s going to get a nice steak dinner from @James_Paxton. pic.twitter.com/sZK2O0NaQC

— MLB (@MLB) May 9, 2018

He was also one of the more feared left-handed hitters against left-handed pitchers during his career, with 86 of his 242 homers coming against southpaws, showed a flair for drama with numerous game-winning home runs, and tortured the Rangers whenever the Mariners played in Texas (so much so that his 118 RBIs against Texas since his first full season is the most by one player against a single opponent during that stretch, according to Rangers broadcaster Jared Sandler).

Seattle selected Seager in the third round of the MLB Draft out of North Carolina in 2009, just two rounds after the Mariners picked Dustin Ackley, his UNC teammate, second overall. It was Seager who became the star for Seattle, however, making the American League All-Star team and winning the AL Gold Glove at third base in 2014. His best overall season was 2016 when he had a slash line of .278/.359/.499 for an OPS of .859 – all career highs – with 30 home runs and 99 RBIs.

Seattle gave Seager a big, emotional sendoff at T-Mobile Park in the Mariners’ final game of the 2021 season on Oct. 3, though at the time it was thought he would just be leaving for another team in free agency, not retiring.

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Follow @BrentStecker