BREAKING: Cincinnati Reds Three-Time All-Star Third Baseman’s Retires From Baseball

Longtime Cincinnati Reds third baseman Mike Moustakas has hit his final home run. The Royals announced Monday that Moustakas, a three-time All-Star and key member of their 2015 World Series-winning team, will retire later this year. He will officially sign a one-day contract and retire with the Royals on May 31. “Always a Royal,” the team posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Moustakas played 13 MLB seasons, posting a .247 batting average with 215 home runs, 683 RBIs, and a .739 OPS. He spent most of his career in Kansas City, where he hit 139 home runs from 2011 to 2018. Moustakas made the All-Star team in 2015 and again in 2017, when he smashed 38 home runs. He was a key part of the Royals’ mid-2010s core alongside Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, and Lorenzo Cain. Kansas City came up just short in the 2014 World Series before capturing the championship against the New York Mets in 2015.

The Royals traded Moustakas to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 as they entered a rebuild. He had one more standout season in 2019, hitting 35 home runs and earning an All-Star selection for Milwaukee. However, his production declined afterward, as he batted .228 with 33 homers and a .684 OPS from 2020-23 across three teams. He did not play in the majors last season.

Fans expressed their appreciation for Moustakas on social media. “Always love our Moose,” one wrote, sharing that their child was upset because he was their favorite player. Another fan called him their “favorite position player from that era,” while many said they had already secured tickets for the May 31 ceremony. The Royals previously held a similar event for Cain in 2018. “You’ve done an amazing job in KC, Mike!” one fan commented. “Thanks for the memories!” Another added, “Pretty awesome we’re making sure these guys retire a Royal.”