Juan Lagares has officially hung up his cleats.
The 2015 Gold Glove Award winner, who last graced a Major League Baseball field four years ago, announced his retirement on Instagram on February 19th.
In his heartfelt message, Lagares expressed deep appreciation for the game and gave a special shoutout to his current team, Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Winter League, writing in his native Spanish.
Lagares' journey in the MLB saw him don the jerseys of the New York Mets from 2013 to 2020, and the Los Angeles Angels from 2021 to 2022. He steps away from the game with a career .250/.291/.360 slash line, 31 home runs, 217 RBIs, and 45 stolen bases over 850 games.
Although his bat wasn't the most powerful - never surpassing six home runs in a season or more than 465 plate appearances - Lagares' defensive prowess made him a valuable asset throughout his 20-year professional career.
After his stint with the Angels, Lagares continued to showcase his talents in the Dominican Winter League, playing 90 games with Aguilas over the past four seasons.
Lagares made an immediate impact in his rookie year with the Mets in 2013, earning the National League Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award. His 14 assists that season were tops among NL center fielders.
In 2014, at just 25, Lagares led all NL center fielders in Defensive Runs Saved, a testament to his exceptional fielding skills. His highlight-reel catches and throws earned him his first and only Gold Glove Award.
Despite injuries limiting his regular season appearances, Lagares was instrumental in the Mets' 2015 run to the NL pennant. He was clutch in the postseason, hitting .429 in the NL Division Series against the Dodgers, .333 in the NL Championship Series against the Cubs, and .300 in his World Series appearances against the Royals.