Hunter Pence announced on Saturday that he is retiring from baseball following a 14-year career that saw him become one of the most beloved players in the sport.
Pence, who returned to the San Francisco Giants this season, is stepping away from baseball following an iconic career with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Giants.
A second-round pick in the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft, Pence began his professional career with the Astros. He made his MLB debut on April 28, 2007, and recorded his first MLB hit.
After finishing third for the Rookie of the Year award, Pence took his game to another level. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2009 with the Astros. He earned his second All-Star Game nod in 2011, then was traded to the Phillies for four minor league players a few weeks later.
A year after being traded, Pence was moved once again. The Phillies sent him to the San Francisco Giants at the MLB Trade Deadline in 2012, with San Francisco making a big move in the hunt for another World Series title.
Pence ultimately found a home with the Giants, winning two World Series rings and making the All-Star roster in 2014. After seven seasons in San Francisco, Pence signed with the Texas Rangers in 2019 and rebounded in his age-36 season with 18 home runs and his fourth All-Star selection.
The Giants signed Pence this offseason for outfield depth, but the 37-year-old saw limited playing time this season. Ultimately, he was designated for assignment and released in August.
Pence enjoyed tremendous success during his MLB career, but he could have done even more if not for injuries. He played in just 52 games during the 2015 season, and his durability took a drastic turn in his final years with the Giants. Despite missing more than 200 games from 2015 to 2018, he still walks away with some impressive stats.
During his five-year run with the Astros, Pence hit 103 home runs with 61 stolen bases, 377 RBI and a .818 OPS across 680 games. Even during his short stint in Philadelphia, the star outfielder posted a .842 OPS with 28 home runs and 94 RBI in 155 games.
Before the injury-riddled end to his career, Pence was also one of San Francisco’s best players. He played in 162 games during each of the 2013 and ’14 seasons, hitting 47 total home runs with 35 stolen bases and 173 RBI.
He rediscovered his old form during a one-year stint with the Texas Rangers, hitting 18 home runs with a .910 OPS in 83 games. Unfortunately, he was limited for the majority of the second half due to lower-body injuries.
A two-time World Series champion and four-time All-Star, Pence finishes with 244 home runs, 942 RBI, 120 stolen bases and a .279/.334/.461 slash line in his career.
More must-reads: