One of the big contributors of the San Francisco Giants’ 2014 World Series title, Joe Panik, is ready for new personal and professional challenges.
The 31-year-old infielder announced his retirement from baseball.
“Joe Panik has retired from baseball, per @JonHeyman,” MLB on Fox tweeted.
Joe Panik has retired from baseball, per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/zhaJCkxurq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 20, 2022
Panik’s debut season, 2014, was something to remember.
In the 2014 National League Championship Series, he hit a two-run home run in Game 5 to contribute to an eventual 6–3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals to get into the World Series against the Kansas City Royals.
He had a crucial defensive play in Game 7 of the World Series and was a big reason why the Giants were able to hold off the Royals and win their third Fall Classic in a span of five seasons.
A Game-Saver For The Giants
He virtually saved the game for the Giants: if he doesn’t make that diving play up the middle to start a double play off the bat of Eric Hosmer in the third inning of Game 7, Kansas City would have probably won.
Giants fans love him, even if it’s only because of that play.
You could say it was a championship play.
Panik stayed in San Francisco until 2019, when he was traded to the New York Mets.
He also played with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Miami Marlins.
He was a below-average offensive player since 2019, and was particularly bad in the last couple of seasons.
Overall, he played in 818 career games and took 3,099 plate appearances.
He had 42 homers, 340 runs, 258 RBI, and 22 stolen bases, and slashed .264/.328/.372.
2015 will probably go down as his best year, as he hit .312/.378/.455.
He will have some good memories to tell his loved ones, including being a key performer on a World Series-winning team.
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