C Mike Zunino retires after 11 MLB seasons

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th March, 19:22 2024

Aug 4, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino (10) smiles during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Tropicana Field. credits: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher Mike Zunino, who played in 11 major league seasons for three different organizations, announced his retirement Wednesday.

"While my time on the field has concluded, my passion for baseball remains as strong as ever, and I eagerly anticipate exploring new avenues to contribute to the sport.," Zunino said in a social media post through his representatives at Wasserman Baseball.

Zunino, 32, was a career .199 hitter with 149 home runs and 372 RBIs in 892 career games. He played his first six seasons for the Seattle Mariners before heading to the Tampa Bay Rays (2019-22) and Cleveland Guardians (2023).

Zunino's only All-Star appearance came in 2021 as a member of the Rays when he also finished 20th in American League MVP voting. He batted .216 that season with 33 home runs and 62 RBIs and had a career-best .860 OPS.

—Field Level Media