Josh Reddick announces retirement with farewell message to fans of Astros, baseball
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Before an Astros-Yankees American League Championship game he was attending as a fan last October, Josh Reddick said he planned to call it a career as soon as he wrapped up a stint in the Australian Baseball League. He made it official late Saturday night with an Instagram post announcing his retirement.
“How do I start writing about this?” he posted. “I didn’t think I’d announce this at 36, but again, I never imagined the journey I’d be on for almost 12 years. It’s time for me to quit the game of baseball.”
In a career that spanned 13 seasons with five different teams, Reddick hit .262 with 146 home runs. His longest stint was 4 1/2 years in Oakland, but his most memorable stint was with the Astros, who signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal before the 2017 season.
He produced one of the best years of his career that first season, helping the Astros win their first World Series while hitting a career best .314 with 13 home runs and 82 RBI. He was a fan favorite in Houston who adopted his “Woo!” she screams during his attacks.
Reddick, who married his wife Jett and the couple had twin boys during their time in Houston, thanked every big league team he played for but saved his longest message for the Astros.
“To the Houston Astros, I’m so grateful for trusting me to sign me as a free agent and for a chance to be on some teams that will go down in baseball history forever,” Reddick wrote. “Winning a World Series will always be high on my list of career highlights. To the fans, you welcomed me from Game 1 and helped me develop a career staple with the Woo! movement. Being able hearing it every night every night from so many fans made me feel so special and cheered me up every night.You all treated my little family better than I could ever ask for a Houston became HOME to us because of the incredible four years we have lived with the Astro.”
Before signing with the Astros, Reddick spent a few months with the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series. Since then, Reddick has been going back and forth with some Dodgers fans on social media over the 2017 Astros headline, which always draws heat in Los Angeles due to the sign theft scandal.
“I know we don’t get along these days, but I’m grateful for my time at Dodger Blue,” Reddick wrote to Dodgers fans in his farewell message.
Reddick played his last major league game in 2021 with the Diamondbacks. He attempted to keep his career alive playing in the Mexican league last summer, hitting .293 with four home runs in 28 games. He went on to play 39 games in Australia, hitting .238 with seven home runs and 31 RBI.
“Goodbye, baseball,” Reddick wrote. “You were everything and so much more than this kid could have imagined. It’s time to pass the torch to my boys who know nothing but the life of baseball.”
