Texas Rangers relief pitcher Ian Kennedy has opted to retire, per a report by Sport Relay after Game 5 of the World Series.
Kennedy spent the 2023 season with the Rangers, but ended it on the 60-day injured list. He was on the roster and was part of the celebration after the club's Game 5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kennedy made 16 appearances with the Rangers in 2023, going 0-1 with a 7.16 ERA, wrapping up a 17-year career in which he played with six different teams.
He took part in the World Series victory parade on Friday in Arlington.
Kennedy closed 16 games for the Rangers in 2021and had a 2.51 ERA before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the deadline. Texas netted pitcher Spencer Howard in the deal.
Oddly, he spent 2022 with the Diamondbacks, where he went 4-7 with a 5.36 ERA and saved 10 games.
Kennedy was drafted by the New York Yankees and broke into the Majors in 2007. He began his career as a starting pitcher, and enjoyed his best season in 2011, when he went 21-4 with Arizona. He had a 2.88 ERA, 198 strikeouts and 55 walks. He finished fourth National League Cy Young voting and was 14th in MVP voting.
He won 10 or more games three other times before he moved into a relief role. He had a career record of 104-111 with a 3.94 ERA, along with 66 saves in more than 1,900 innings pitched.
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