Jose Bautista was one of baseball’s greatest pure hitters and was a delight to watch for many fans around the game.
The six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger hasn’t played since the 2018 season, but he had not officially retired.
However, Bautista will officially retire in a fitting way.
He is signing a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays so that he can retire with the team that he spent the vast majority of his career with.
On Twitter, Kaitlyn McGrath, who covers the Blue Jays for The Athletic, announced the news of Bautista’s official retirement and the one-day deal he has with the team.
José Bautista is signing a one-day contract to retire as a member of the #BlueJays before he’s added to the Level of Excellence tomorrow: https://t.co/3Rvt2wWukw
— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) August 11, 2023
Bautista made his Major League debut in 2004 with the Baltimore Orioles, but bounced around between the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
His first full season came in 2006 with the Buccos.
He was traded to the Blue Jays in 2008 and became one of baseball’s most elite hitters during his time in Toronto.
In 2010 and 2011, the slugger led the Major Leagues in home runs with 54 and 43, respectively.
One of his signature moments came in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS against the Texas Rangers, when he hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, which he followed up with an epic bat flip that sent Rogers Centre into a frenzy.
That proved to be the difference in that game, as the Blue Jays reached the ALCS.
Bautista retires with a grand total of 344 home runs and a career WAR of 36.7.
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