Howie Kendrick, NL Championship Series MVP from 2019, Retires

Washington Nationals left fielder Howie Kendrick in 2017. Photo by Trask Smith/CSM/Shutterstock (9019914p)

Infielder Howie Kendrick decided to end his professional baseball career after playing 15 years in the MLB. The 37-year-old player announced his retirement on Monday via social media.

Kendrick posted a photo of himself and his family holding the World Series trophy he won with the Washington Nationals on Instagram and added a lengthy caption. Among other things, he thanked everyone who had a role in his career while saying it’s time to “enter a new stage of my life.”

Kendrick was limited to just 25 games with Washington in 2020, dealing with a hamstring injury. He had two home runs and 14 RBIs while batting .275.

After the season wrapped up, Washington decided to decline the $6.5 million option for 2021 on Kendrick’s contract, making him a free agent.

Throughout his MLB career, Howie Kendrick played with LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Nationals. He made one All-Star appearance and posted a .294 career batting average with 127 homers and 724 RBIs.

The highlight of Kendrick’s career was the 2019 World Series run with Washington when he emerged as an unlikely hero in National League Championship Series against St. Louis Cardinals. In four games of the series, Kendrick batted .333 and had four RBIs while earning NLCS MVP honors. He also hit a home run in Game 7 of the World Series.