8-Year Veteran Announces Retirement

He spent eight years in the big leagues, fulfilling a childhood dream. But now at the age of 33, still feeling the effects of a knee injury that irreparably damaged his career, outfielder Steven Souza Jr. has called it quits. He made the announcement himself on social media.

Time to call it a Career pic.twitter.com/pQ77oLYAkn

— Steven Souza (@SouzaJr) July 19, 2022

Souza's best year was 2017 with the Tampa Bay Rays, when he blasted 30 home runs, to go along with 78 RBIs and 16 stolen bases, a .239 average and an .810 OPS.

He damaged multiple knee ligaments in a spring training injury in 2019, and had season-ending surgery. He was never the same after that unfortunate turn of events. 

"Time to call it a career," wrote Souza on Twitter. "It's been an incredible journey that I dreamed as a kid that I would be able to go on... I want to share my experiences and my love for the greatest game in the world with those who strive to be what I did. Here's to the next chapter."

Souza retires with a career 72 HR, 207 RBIs, 42 SBs and a .729 OPS. 

All the best to him in his new travels.

Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports