After a long, successful career in the major leagues, infielder Neil Walker has decided that it’s officially time to hang up his cleats and call it a career.
Throughout his 12-year MLB career, Neil Walker seemed to always have a smile on his face. The man was a fan favorite and for good reason. Now, Walker is getting ready for the next chapter in his life, as he’s suited up for the last time.
On Tuesday, the veteran infielder announced that he’s retiring from the game he loves so much. Walker said goodbye with an emotional Twitter post.
Veteran infielder Neil Walker has announced that he’s retiring from baseball
Walker is best known for his days with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he spent the first seven years of his career with the team. After that, Walker enjoyed stints with the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies, where he closed out his career in 2020, playing in 18 games.
A versatile infielder, Walker played first base, second base and third base throughout his career. He was a .267 hitter, recording 1,224 hits, 149 homers and 609 RBI. Walker was known for delivering some big hits in key situations, and he was also incredibly reliable with his glove in the field as well.
While he never played in the All-Star Game, Walker enjoyed several fine seasons and made a major difference for teams he went out to battle with. On top of that, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t say he was anything other than a model teammate throughout his career.
Now, Walker is saying goodbye to baseball. It goes without saying, but fans in the multiple cities he played in are thankful for all of his contributions over the years.