Jesse Chavez Hangs Up His Cleats After 18 Seasons in MLB
Right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez announced his retirement from professional baseball on Thursday, marking the end of an outstanding 18-season career in the Major Leagues. Chavez, 41, left his mark on the sport with a total of 657 appearances on the mound, playing for nine different teams throughout his career. His last appearance on the field was on July 13, defending the colors of the Atlanta Braves against the St. Louis Cardinals. During his career, Chavez was the subject of 11 changes, a record in MLB history.In his career, Chavez accumulated a record of 51-66, with an ERA of 4.27. He also added nine saves and a total of 1,044 strikeouts in 1,142 innings pitched. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Chavez began his career in 2008 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the years, he also played for the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs. In the current season, he participated in four games with the Braves, recording a 0-1 record with a 9.00 ERA in eight innings. His first stint with the Braves was in 2010, and he returned to the organization in 2021, the year he won his only World Series ring. In the current season, he had three different periods with the Atlanta team.“For now, I don’t think we’re going to continue,” Chavez commented. “It’s time to turn the page and focus on the next chapter of life, and help all the young people so they don’t have to take two steps back to move forward three.”
Jesse Chavez
“This has been a great journey and much more than I ever expected as a 42nd round draft pick,” Chavez expressed. “I was given a gift from the beginning, I understood that, but the question was, ‘How am I going to make it last?’”
Jesse Chavez
