KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Moustakas, a key player in the Kansas City Royals’ 2015 World Series championship, announced on Monday that he will retire as a Royal. The former third baseman made the announcement at the team’s spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona.
“This city and this organization hold a special place in my heart and my family’s,” Moustakas said in a video released by the Royals.
He will sign a one-day contract with the team on May 31. A retirement ceremony will take place that afternoon before the Royals’ home game against the Detroit Tigers at 3:10 p.m.
Moustakas played a significant role in the Royals’ resurgence after years of struggling in the American League. A standout high school player in Chatsworth, California, he was the Royals’ first-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft.
He debuted in the major leagues in 2011 and played in 89 games with the Royals. Known for his energetic presence, fans would chant “MOOOOOOSE!!!” whenever he stepped up to bat or made a standout play at third base. In 2015, he hit 22 home runs and recorded 82 RBIs.
Moustakas had a stellar 2017 season, hitting 38 home runs and earning the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year award. After his time with the Royals, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Angels before retiring at the end of the 2023 season.
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