Former Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher announced his retirement on The Players’ Tribune on Friday.
Swisher is slated to be a guest instructor for the Yankees in Tampa and will also be joining Fox Sports as a studio analyst.
The 36-year-old was the 16th overall pick by the Oakland A’s in 2002. He made his Major League debut two years later and hit in the middle of the A’s lineup from 2005-2007, proving to be a fantastic switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate.
However, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2008 and had an awful season. This prompted Yankees GM Brian Cashman to buy low on Swisher, acquiring him for infielder Wilson Betemit and minor leaguers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez.
Swisher ended up playing the best baseball of his career in New York, even making the American League All-Star team in 2010. He’s often credited for lightening up the Yankees clubhouse in 2009, and his on-field contributions were just as crucial. He hit .249/.371/.498 with 29 home runs, helping the Yankees capture their 27th World Series Championship. He put up similar numbers from 2010-2012 and was arguably Joe Girardi‘s most consistent hitter.
After four solid seasons in New York, Swisher signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Cleveland Indians in 2013. Unfortunately, he underwent season-ending surgery on both knees in 2014 and hit .196 in 76 games with the Indians and Atlanta Braves in 2015.
The Yankees signed Swisher to a minor-league deal last spring, as he felt healthy and ready for a return to the Bronx. However, he never got the call, and opted out of his contract in June to be with his family.
Across 12 Major League seasons, Swisher hit .249/.351/.447 with 245 home runs. Not Hall of Fame worthy, but nothing to scoff at either.
Congrats on an awesome career, “bro”.
