Former Gold Glover Announces Retirement at Age of 34

After winning four Gold Glove Awards in his career, 34-year-old shortstop Andrelton Simmons is reportedly retiring.

After winning four Gold Glove Awards in his career, 34-year-old shortstop Andrelton Simmons is reportedly retiring.

Per Angels Insider Jared Tims on social media:

Former #Angels SS Andrelton Simmons has announced his retirement

Former #Angels SS Andrelton Simmons has announced his retirement

— Jared Tims (@Jared_Tims) December 26, 2023

If this is in fact the end for Simmons, he spent 11 years in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs. One of the best defenders of his era, he won a Platinum Glove Award and was named the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year during his run.

He made his major league debut in 2012 with the Braves before moving to the Angels in 2016. He stayed in Los Angeles through 2020 before linking up the Twins in 2021 and the Cubs for a spell in 2022. He has not played in the big leagues since then but he also represented the Netherlands at the 2013, 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics.

Fairly durable throughout his career, he played more than 100 games in eight different seasons (one of the ones that he didn't was the COVID shortened 2020 season).

Known more for his glove than his bat, he held a respectable .263 lifetime average and a .312 on-base percentage. He popped a career-best 17 homers in 2013 for the Braves and had a career-best 75 RBIs in 2018 with the Angels.

One of several good players from the island of Curacao, he joins Jurickson Profar and Andruw Jones as some of the most recognizable players from the country.

He got to the playoffs twice in his career - with the Braves in both 2012 and 2013.

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