Two-Time Gold Glove Winner Kolten Wong Announces Retirement
Veteran second baseman Kolten Wong, a two-time Gold Glove recipient in the National League, has officially retired from Major League Baseball. Speaking from his home state of Hawaii on Friday, Wong confirmed he’s stepping away from the game after 11 seasons in the big leagues.
“I’m done,” Wong said in an interview with Spectrum News. “I’ve made peace with it. The way the game’s moving now, it doesn’t make sense to keep chasing it. I’m a dad now — that’s where I want to give my full attention. I’m focused on being the best big league dad I can be.”
Wong began his MLB journey as a first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 Draft out of the University of Hawaii. He made his debut in 2013 and spent the next eight seasons with the Cardinals, where he earned Gold Gloves in 2019 and 2020 and three Fielding Bible Awards from 2018 to 2020.
He appeared in 28 playoff games during his time with St. Louis, including two games in the 2013 World Series against the Red Sox. Following his tenure with the Cardinals, Wong signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in February 2021. He was later traded to the Seattle Mariners before the 2023 season.
Wong struggled offensively in Seattle, hitting just .165 before being released in August 2023. He was then picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he hit .300 with two home runs in 20 games. He also went hitless in the Dodgers’ NLDS loss to the Diamondbacks that October.
In 2024, Wong attempted a comeback with minor league stints in the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations. He posted a .271 batting average with a .339 OBP and .383 slugging in 31 games for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate but never received a major league call-up.
Wong wraps up his MLB career with a lifetime batting line of .256/.330/.390 over 1,189 games, playing for the Cardinals, Brewers, Mariners, and Dodgers.
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