SURPRISE, Ariz. — Mike Moustakas is set to retire as a Kansas City Royal after a 13-year Major League Baseball career, highlighted by a World Series victory in 2015 with the team.
On Monday, the Royals revealed Moustakas’ decision to retire. On May 31, the 36-year-old infielder will sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Royals, his first MLB team. He will also receive honors in a pre-game ceremony before Kansas City takes on Detroit at home.
Throughout his career, Moustakas maintained a .247 batting average, accumulated 215 home runs, and had 683 RBIs over 1,427 games. Apart from his time in Kansas City, he also suited up for teams like Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Colorado, and the Los Angeles Angels. He last appeared in a major league game with the Angels on September 30, 2023.
Originally selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, Moustakas debuted in the majors with the Royals in 2011. He quickly became an integral player during a significant period for the franchise, especially in 2015 when he hit .284 with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs across 147 games. His performance was instrumental in Kansas City’s AL Central win, and he contributed eight RBIs in the postseason to help the Royals secure their first World Series title since 1985.
Moustakas reached a personal milestone in 2017 with a career-high 38 home runs while with Kansas City. The following year, he achieved a career-best of 95 RBIs while splitting his season between the Royals and Brewers.
