New York Mets outfielder Michael Cuddyer has called it a career. He spent one season with the New York Mets but played in 15 Major League Baseball seasons. Cuddyer suited up for the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, and the New York Mets. He had one more season remaining on his contract
According to Yahoosports.com, Cuddyer said, “I’ve made the decision to retire. With one year left on my contract, it is especially difficult to imagine not suiting up in a Mets uniform for one more year. As an athlete, retiring is the toughest decision you have to make and I don’t make it lightly. I’ve always run out every hit like it was my last. As an untested high school kid drafted with a dream, I’ve never taken a single moment in the majors for granted. It goes against every grain in my body to consider a future without the game.”
Cuddyer started his career in 2001 with the Twins appearing in 8 games hitting .222 with 1 RBI. He wouldn’t hit his first home run until the next season. The best year he had with the Twins came in 2009 where he hit .276, 32 home runs and 94 RBI’s. The Twins went to the playoffs six times with Cuddyer.
On December 16th 2011, he left Minnesota for the Colorado Rockies agreeing to a three-year contract worth $31.5 million. He was hoping his experience would assist the Colorado Rockies in going to the playoffs. That never happened. Cuddyer was one of the best Rockies hitters. In 2013 he had a career high batting average of .331, which led the National League. During the year he had a 27 game hitting streak. Cuddyer also won the Silver Slugger Award for his play.
Last offseason, he rejected the Rockies offer of $15.3 million. Cuddyer wanted to go to a team that was going to win. He picked the Mets agreeing to a two-year $21 million contract. This past season he hit .259, with 41 RBI’s, and 10 home runs. The Mets went all the way to the World Series and lost to the Kansas City Royals. It was the only time Cuddyer went to the Fall Classic.
Cuddyer finishes his career hitting .277, 197 home runs, and 764 RBI’s. He went to the All-Star Game twice. Cuddyer might never get into the Baseball Hall of Fame because of his numbers but will be remembered as a great teammate and one who played the game of baseball the right way.
How should we remember Michael Cuddyer?
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