MLB player retires at the age of 26 after injuries derailed a promising career

Alex Kiriloff, an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, has announced his retirement from baseball on Thursday at the age of 26 – citing a long history of injuries which have kept the 2016 first-round pick from fulfilling his potential. 

Kirilloff was limited to just 57 games in the 2024 MLB season – the last coming on June 11 – due to a lower back injury. He batted .201 with five home runs, 20 RBIs, and an OPS of .653 

After being sent down to the Triple-A minor league affiliate St. Paul Saints, Kirilloff reported further soreness in his lower back as well as nerve-related pain in his leg.

Kirilloff told the Twins that he understated the severity of his injury because he wanted to keep playing, but wasn’t able to get well enough to return afterwards.

He told reporters in a video conference call that he was diagnosed with a chronic stress fracture and a slipping vertebrae which could take up to a year to fully rehabilitate. 

‘It just comes to the point where you have to ask yourself, “Should I be playing, and how does it affect my quality of life down the road?”‘ Kirilloff said.

Kirilloff had his best major-league season back in 2023 – when he batted .270 with 11 home runs in 88 games. He mostly played at first base last season, but spent a majority of his career as a corner outfielder or a designated hitter.

He won Minnesota’s Minor League Player of the Year award back in 2018 and made his MLB debut with the Twins in the 2020 postseason.

But he was beset by wrist and shoulder injuries that he finally appeared to overcome in 2024 – only for his back to fail him.

Across 249 career games, he hit a career mark of .248 with 27 home runs, 116 RBIs, and an OPS of .721. 

The Pennsylvania native said he had been debating his future for a while and came to peace with his decision in the last few weeks.

‘These challenges have taken a toll on me mentally and physically. Over time, I´ve realized that my passion for playing the game has shifted. Baseball demands an `all-in´ approach, something I´ve brought to every season,’ Kirilloff said in a social media post. ‘However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I´ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.’