DETROIT — Outfielder Avisaíl García, who began his career by getting big postseason hits as a Detroit Tigers rookie, announced his retirement this week.
García, 34, played parts of 12 Major League seasons, most recently with the Miami Marlins in 2024.
García signed with the Tigers out of Venezuela as a relatively unheralded prospect, worked his way up the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2012, having just turned 21.
Although he played sparingly in the final month of the regular season, he earned a spot on the playoff roster and recorded the first extra-base hit of his career in the clinching Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees.
Despite the promising beginning, García’s career with the Tigers did not last long. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in December 2013 as part of a massive three-team deal that brought shortstop José Iglesias to Detroit.
García went on to play parts of six seasons with the White Sox, one with the Tampa Bay Rays and two with the Milwaukee Brewers before finishing his career with the Marlins. He earned more than $80 million over his career, propelled by three strong seasons: an All-Star 2017 campaign with the White Sox, a bounce-back 2019 season with the Rays and a strong 2021 season with the Brewers that led to his final four-year, $53 million contract with Miami.
That deal turned out to be a disaster for the Marlins. Beset by injuries, García played in only 153 games and was worth negative 1.9 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.
For his career, García finished with 1,038 hits, 140 home runs, a .263 batting average, a .733 OPS and a 100 OPS+ in 4,298 plate appearances across 1,104 games. He played primarily in right field, where he typically graded out as an above-average defender.
García announced his retirement with a message on his Instagram page.
“Today I formally announce the end of my career in Major League Baseball after 12 seasons of dedication and hard work.
“Thank you to God for the blessing of fulfilling my childhood dream, playing baseball at its highest level.
“To my family: my eternal gratitude for your unconditional love, constant support, and sacrifices that made every step of this journey possible.
“To my agent, Gene Mato, and the Mato Sports Management team: thank you for your professional guidance, loyalty, and unwavering support throughout my career.
“To my teammates, coaches, and staff: thank you for the brotherhood, respect, and shared lessons day in and day out. These good memories will stay in my heart forever.
“To the teams that trusted me and gave me the opportunity to compete at the highest level, thank you.
“Baseball gave me far more than I could have dreamed: achievements, experiences, and values I will carry with me always. I close this chapter with pride and gratitude, ready for new chapters in life.
“With respect and appreciation, Avisaíl García”