16-Year Veteran Pitcher Announces Retirement

Tommy Hunter, a seasoned MLB reliever, has officially announced his retirement.

The 37-year-old, who first hinted at his retirement on former teammate Adam Jones' podcast in October, confirmed the news to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic.

Hunter's career spanned 16 years in the majors, beginning with his selection by the Texas Rangers in the supplemental first round of the 2007 draft from the University of Alabama.

RHP Tommy Hunter is officially retired, he tells The Athletic. Hunter pitched for seven teams over 16 seasons and is unclear what the future holds. The father of four said he feels like he "might have something to give back to the game."
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) December 13, 2023

Hunter's journey in the majors was marked by significant transitions and achievements.

After starting his career as a starter and compiling a 4.36 ERA over three seasons, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles.

In Baltimore, Hunter initially struggled as a starter but found remarkable success upon transitioning to the bullpen in 2013.

This shift saw him delivering consecutive sub-3.00 ERA seasons in 2013 and 2014.

Hunter's versatility and effectiveness as a reliever led him to play for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets.

Despite a challenging final season where he recorded a 6.85 ERA over 23.2 innings, Hunter's overall performance remained commendable throughout his career.

Congratulations to former Phillies reliever Tommy Hunter on his retirement.

Hunter pitched in 94 games for the Phillies from 2018 through 2020 and had a 3.64 ERA with 84 strikeouts and 5 saves. pic.twitter.com/WOvsHCSmdQ
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) December 14, 2023