Trusty veteran starting pitcher Alex Wood announced his retirement Friday.
The 34-year-old lefty played 12 seasons in the big leagues, made one All-Star appearance and won one World Series.
Wood made his retirement official in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“For over half my life, every decision I’ve made has centered around how it would impact my baseball career,” Wood wrote. “I’ve given every ounce of myself in pursuit of my lifelong dream of becoming a big leaguer. Playing 12 years in the show, reaching 7 postseasons, winning a World Series, and earning an All-Star selection — I never could’ve imagined it would turn out this way.”
After a collegiate career at Georgia, Wood stayed local after being drafted by the Braves in the second round in 2012. He then made his debut for Atlanta in 2013 at 22 years old.
Wood posted a superb 3.10 ERA across 86 games with the Braves before being traded to Los Angeles, where he’d spend the next four seasons (2015-18) with the Dodgers.
In 2017, he made 25 starts for Los Angeles, posted a career-best 2.72 ERA and got his only All-Star nod of his career.
Wood spent 2019 with the Reds before returning to the Dodgers in 2020 and winning the World Series, pitching four innings in the Fall Classic and allowing no runs.
He joined the Giants at 30 years old and spent three solid seasons there before finishing his career with the Athletics in 2024.
“To the Braves, Dodgers, Reds, Giants and Athletics — and your incredible fans — THANK YOU,” Wood wrote. “Playing for five iconic franchises and becoming part of those communities is something my family and I will always cherish.”
Wood also penned his emotional gratitude for his teammates, coaches, wife, parents, sons and his agency.
“Baseball was my first love. Outside of God and my family, nothing else has shaped me the way this game has,” he added. “Even writing this, I can’t help but smile thinking about how much I still love the game after all this time.
“To everyone who helped make this dream a reality that I couldn’t begin to list — if you think this is about you — IT IS. I love you and thank you. Cheers to what’s next. See you at the park!”
