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 colors of the Águilas Cibaeñas.
The news was announced by the player himself through his social media, where he expressed his gratitude to the Aguilucha fans for the unconditional support received over more than a decade.
A Legacy in Lidom
During his career 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.
One of the highlights of his career in Lidom was the 2020-21 season, when he played a crucial role in obtaining the championship for the Águilas. In the final series against the Gigantes del Cibao, Lagares exhibited a batting average of .379 (29-11), including three home runs and 10 RBIs, a performance that earned him the Most Valuable Player award of that final, which extended to seven exciting games.
Major League Career
In the Major Leagues, Lagares competed for 10 seasons. His debut came in 2013 with the New York Mets, the team he played for eight campaigns, and later was part of the Los Angeles Angels.
In 850 MLB games, he posted an offensive line of .250/.291/.360, with an OPS of .651. However, his biggest impact was felt on defense. In 2014, he was awarded the Gold Glove as the Mets’ center fielder, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the National League and leading defensive WAR (3.1) that same year.
Furthermore, in 2015, he was part of the New York team that reached the World Series, although the title was won by the Kansas City Royals in five games.
