Jackson Cluff is calling it a career.
The 29-year-old shortstop announced on Wednesday, Oct. 21, that he is retiring immediately after eight professional seasons. Cluff made the decision public on Instagram, where he reflected on the end of his baseball journey and said he was looking ahead to what comes next.
“After 8 professional seasons and a lifetime spent chasing this dream, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the game,” Cluff wrote on Instagram. “It’s hard to put into words what baseball has meant to me and how grateful I am for everything it has given me.
But, I’m really excited for what’s next. What a ride it’s been.”
Cluff’s path took him through the Nationals organization before brief stops with the Mets and Cubs. A sixth-round pick by Washington out of BYU in the 2019 MLB Draft, he was ranked as the Nationals’ No. 17 prospect two years later by MLB Pipeline. He also earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for his work with the Arizona Fall League’s Surprise Saguaros in 2021.
His final seasons included time at the Triple-A level with both New York and Chicago. In 2026, Cluff played 80 games for the Syracuse Mets and Iowa Cubs and posted a .164/.295/.306 slash line. The year before, with Washington’s Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, he had the best power numbers of his career, hitting 12 home runs and slashing .242/.349/.422 in 103 games.
The Mets signed Cluff to a minor-league contract in November 2025. He appeared in 10 Grapefruit League games with New York and went 3-for-18 with five walks.
The Mets later released him in August after he hit .169 in 62 games, and the Cubs picked him up afterward. He played 18 games for Iowa and hit .148.
In his retirement note, Cluff thanked each of the organizations that gave him a shot.
“To the @nationals, thank you for taking a chance on the kid from BYU that was ‘too old’ for the draft,” Cluff wrote. He added, “To the @mets, thank you for giving me an opportunity no others were willing to do. To the @cubs, thank you for giving me a chance to finish out my career in the midst of my most challenging season.”
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