Jesse Chávez, veteran MLB pitcher, announces his retirement at age 41

Jesse Chavez Hangs Up the Hooks After 18 Seasons in MLB

Right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez announced his retirement from professional baseball on Thursday, marking the end of a distinguished 18-season career in the Major Leagues. Chavez, 41 years old, left an indelible mark on the sport, with 657 appearances on the mound representing nine different teams. His last appearance was on July 13, playing for the Atlanta Braves against the St. Louis Cardinals. Chavez, known for his versatility and longevity, was traded 11 times throughout his career, a record in MLB history.

“For now, I don’t think we’re going to continue,” Chavez commented.

Jesse Chavez on Foul Territory

The pitcher expressed his desire to focus on the next chapter of his life and help the new generations of young baseball players. During his career, Chavez accumulated a record of 51-66 with an effectiveness of 4.27, in addition to nine saves and 1,044 strikeouts in 1,142 innings pitched. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Chavez debuted in 2008 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and also played for the Braves, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics, Dodgers, Angels, Rangers, and Cubs. In the current season, Chavez participated in four games with the Braves, recording a 0-1 record with an ERA of 9.00 in eight innings. He had three different stints with Atlanta this season. Chavez was with the Braves for the first time in 2010 and then returned to the organization in 2021, when he won his only World Series ring.

“This has been a great journey and much more than I expected from a 42nd round draft pick,” Chavez said. “I was given a gift from the beginning, I understood that, but it was, ‘How am I going to make it last?’”

Jesse Chavez