Former Kansas City Royals Closer Announces He's Retiring After Winning World Series Ring with Texas Rangers

After winning a World Series with the Texas Rangers, longtime pitcher Ian Kennedy has said that he plans to retire.

He made the comments to Sport Relay during Wednesday night's World Series celebrations.

The 17-year veteran, who missed the World Series due to injury, revealed to Sport Relay during the Rangers’ clubhouse celebration following their World Series victory that the 2023 season was his last, something he had decided before the season. “There’s no better way to go out,” the jubilant Kennedy said. “You can’t top this feeling.”

Kennedy has pitched for six different organizations over his 17-year career: The Rangers, Yankees, Phillies, Padres, Royals and Diamondbacks.

He served as both a starter and a reliever in his career, going 104-114 overall in 497 games. He made 290 starts overall. He also served as a closer for a time, registering 30 saves for the Royals in 2019 and 26 saves for the Rangers/Phillies in 2021.

He was injured much of this season and only made 16 appearances for Texas with a 7.16 ERA. Despite the injury and ineffectiveness this year, he is a champion for the second time in his career. 

He made one appearance for the 2009 Yankees, who won a World Series by beating the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 38-year-old was a first-round pick of the Yankees in the 2006 draft out of USC. He made his major league debut for the Yankees the following year in 2007 against the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays. 

We wish him the best in his retirement!