Ehire Adrianza, a veteran utlityman who played for 12 seasons — one with the Los Angeles Angels — has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
Adrianza played in MLB from 2013-24, spending the bulk of his career with the San Francisco Giants and the Minnesota Twins. He debuted with the Giants in 2013 and played there for four seasons, but never quite found his footing as a regular player. He never played more than 53 games in a season before being waived in 2017.
He was quickly picked up by the Twins, where he had the best stretch of his career. He played there for another four seasons, playing in 311 games — an average of 78 games per season — and posting a .694 OPS and playing at nearly all infield positions. He made his postseason debut with the Twins in 2017.
One of Adrianza’s best overall seasons came in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves. He played in 109 games, had a .728 OPS and played in every series en route to the Braves winning the World Series that season. He played for the Braves and Washington Nations in 2022, the Braves in 2023 and finally landed with the Angels for his final season in 2024.
He only played eight games for the Angels as part of a revolving door of infielders. And on Christmas Day, Adrianza announced that he is retiring from professional baseball on Instagram:
Today, I address all of you with a profound sense of gratitude and emotion as I announce my retirement from professional baseball. This journey has been incredibly challenging, filled with ups and downs, but every step along the way has been a blessing that I cherish immensely.
Since my childhood, I dreamed of the possibility of winning a World Series, a goal that once seemed so distant and almost unattainable. However, thanks to my effort, dedication, and the unwavering support of each one of you, that dream has become a reality. I still find it hard to believe that I have had the honor of playing more than a decade in the Major Leagues. I never imagined I would achieve so much, and it’s astonishing to reflect on this experience.
Today, I close this chapter of my life, but the memories, friendships, and love for baseball will remain with me forever. Thank you for being part of this incredible adventure.
The Angels were not a massive part of Adrianza’s journey in the Majors, but they were the final jersey he wore before calling it a career. And while Adrianza himself never reached star status, playing a professional sport for 12 years is many kids’ dreams, and he successfully got to live that playing at the absolute highest level.
Angels trade for LHP Mitch Farris
The Angels have traded right-handed pitcher Davis Daniel to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for left-handed minor-league pitcher Mitch Farris, the team announced Friday.
The 23-year-old was drafted by the Braves in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He has largely stuck in the lower levels over the last two seasons, only tossing three innings in Double-A in 2024.
He was particularly effective in High-A Rome last season. In 82.1 innings — 16 starts and 17 appearances — he had a 2.95 ERA and 1.081 WHIP. He struck out 93 batters in that span for a 10.2 K-per-nine rate.
