Conflicting reports regarding the playing future of Andre Ethier have surfaced in the last 24 hours. It has been reported that the two time MLB All-Star has told friends and family that he will be retiring from Major League Baseball.
Source: #Dodgers‘ Andre Ethier informing family and friends he plans to retire. https://t.co/FP3CnCGuYY
— Robert Murray (@RobertMurrayFRS) November 26, 2017
Is Andre Ethier retiring?
Andre Ethier said reports that he’s retiring are “totally untrue.” Teams have already shown interest, he said his back is healthy and he’s preparing to play in 2018.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) November 26, 2017
Mr. Clutch
In early May of 2006, Andre Ethier made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The native of the Gilbert / Chandler area in Arizona broke in at Chase Field in nearby Phoenix. He became a fixture in the Dodgers outfield for nearly the next decade. That was, until injuries slowed Ethier in recent years.
“Andre the Giant Killer”, as he was known, Ethier was clutch for the Dodgers, especially in 2009 when he had career highs in home runs (31), RBI (106) and doubles (42). In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game on the line at Dodger stadium, Andre Ethier was the last hitter the opposing team wanted to see come to the plate.
True Dodger Blue
A Dodger for all 12 of his major league seasons, the former Arizona State star, had an injury-plagued last two seasons. He was able to rehab and work through injuries to appear in his only World Series this season. Andre drove home the only run in the Dodgers loss to the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series. Andre Ethier has been a fan favorite, at Dodger stadium for quite a while now.
Ethier’s Future
Injuries aside, Ethier still has that gorgeous left-handed swing. If the Dodgers do not choose to re-sign him, he could be an attractive option for an American league team looking to add a solid left-handed hitter. A designated hitter role could take away some of the strain of having to play the field. This could extend Ethier’s career and also allow him to be more productive at the plate. It is a long off-season, it remains to be seen if the 35-year-old will be in MLB in 2018.
If Andre Ethier rides off into the sunset, never to play another big league game, he is still owed a large debt of gratitude for his service to baseball fans, especially in Los Angeles.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Andre Ethier #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a RBI single to score Joc Pederson #31 (not pictured) during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
