Santo Domingo – Dominican veteran outfielder Juan Lagares announced his definitive retirement from professional baseball this Thursday, marking the end of a distinguished career that spanned 14 seasons in the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (Lidom), all of them defending the jersey of the Águilas Cibaeñas.
The news was communicated by the player himself through his Instagram account, where he expressed his gratitude to the “aguiluchos” fans for the unconditional support they gave him for more than a decade.
Legacy in the Lidom
During his time in Dominican winter baseball, Lagares participated in 305 games, accumulating a batting average of .286 (1,097-314), with 12 home runs, 139 RBIs, 125 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases. His performance on the field made him a reference point for the Cibao team.
A high point in his Lidom career was the 2020-21 season, where he played a crucial role in obtaining the championship for the Águilas. In the final series against the Gigantes del Cibao, Lagares exhibited a .379 average (29-11), including three home runs and 10 RBIs. His outstanding performance earned him the MVP award of that final, which extended to seven exciting games.
Major League Career
In Major League Baseball, Lagares had a career spanning 10 seasons. His debut was in 2013 with the New York Mets, the team he played with for eight seasons. Subsequently, he also played for the Los Angeles Angels.
In 850 games in MLB, Lagares recorded an offensive line of .250/.291/.360, with an OPS of .651. However, his greatest impact was reflected in defense. In 2014, he was awarded the Gold Glove as a center fielder for the Mets, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the National League and leading defensive WAR (3.1) that same year.
Also, in 2015, he was part of the New York team that reached the World Series.
