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12-year MLB veteran Nick Swisher announces retirement

Courtesy of Jerome Miron, USA Today Sports

“The dream is over, baby.”

In a recent letter to The Players’ Tribune, 12-year MLB veteran Nick Swisher announced his retirement.

After telling a story of a pick-up slow-pitch softball game, Swisher said it’s time to hang up his cleats.

WHEW! That felt goooood. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It’s official. I’m out.

Swisher explained in the letter that this decision is something he has been thinking about for a while, saying his body was telling him it was time to quit.

It seems the story is the same.

A player wants to play until he’s well into his 40s. Clint Barmes told me the same thing when he made the decision to retire.

Swisher had major surgery on both his knees in August of 2014. And when it was time for him to report to spring training the following season, he said he “felt like a piece of glass.” It began to impact his mentality and he couldn’t do certain things he used to.

The 2010 All-Star just blew out 36 candles on his last birthday cake in November and finishes a dozen major league seasons with a .249/.351/.447 line. But to brag (and joke) a little more, he does hold a certain statistic that many pitchers can be envious of.

“And today I can say that I’m calling it a career with one punch-out and a 0.00 lifetime ERA.”

The first baseman and outfielder credits his wife, actress JoAnna, who he describes as his “rock.” He also thanked his father, Steve, as well as his fans for supporting him throughout his career.

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