Tyler Wade’s MLB run is over.
The 31-year-old utilityman announced Monday on his Twitter/X account that he is retiring immediately after nine seasons in the majors, closing the book on a career that took him through four organizations and 507 big league games.
“For as long as I can remember, all I ever wanted was to play in the Major Leagues,” Wade wrote. “Now, 13 years later and after 9 years in the big leagues, it's time to move on.”
Wade spent just one season with the Angels, but he left enough of a mark in Anaheim to become a familiar name for fans there. He appeared in 67 games for the 2022 club, which finished 73-89, hit .218 and was traded to the New York Yankees in July of that year. Joe Maddon valued him for the kind of game that never shows up loudly on a highlight reel: bunting, stealing bases and moving all over the diamond.
That brief Angels stint also came with a nickname overseas. Wade was known as “Ikemen” in Japanese, a word that translates to “hot guy,” a nod tied in part to the photos he often appeared in with Shohei Ohtani that were viewed in the former MVP’s homeland.
Wade’s career stretched well beyond Anaheim. He played for the Yankees from 2017-21, then later suited up for the Oakland A’s in 2023 and the San Diego Padres from 2024-25. Across those nine seasons, he finished with a .216/.294/.284 slash line and 51 stolen bases in 67 attempts.
He was never a star, but he spent plenty of time around them. In Anaheim, he was alongside Ohtani and Mike Trout.
In New York, he shared a clubhouse with Aaron Judge. In San Diego, he backed up Manny Machado at third base and Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field.
Wade’s best statistical season came with the Yankees in 2021, when he set career highs in games played with 103, batting average at .268, on-base percentage at .354 and steals with 17. He also never hit more than three home runs in any major league season, a reminder of the kind of player he was: versatile, fast and built on the details.
In his retirement note, Wade made sure to acknowledge the teams that shaped the journey, including the Angels.
“I've been incredibly blessed to be a part of some amazing teams and, even more importantly, to be surrounded by incredible teammates,” he wrote. “I want to thank the Yankees for taking a chance on an 18-year-old kid and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream of playing for the best franchise in all of sports.
To everyone in the Padres organization, the fans, thank you. I loved every minute of my two years wearing the brown and gold.
“Anaheim and Oakland, you were also a huge part of my journey, and I'm grateful for every experience along the way.”
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