Orioles: Chris Davis Announces Retirement After 13 Seasons

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis announced his retirement Thursday

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is stepping away from the MLB.

On Thursday, Davis, 35, released a statement citing his decision to retire.

Davis underwent surgery in May to repair the labrum in his left hip. The surgery forced him to miss the entire 2021 season.

Davis’ seven-year, $161 million contract was set to expire following the 2022 season.

In his statement, Davis mentioned the surgery as a factor in the decision to step away.

“After an extended time dealing with my injury and recent hip surgery, I informed the Orioles about my decision to retire effective today,” Davis said in a statement released by the team. “I want to thank the Orioles partnership group, led by the Angelos family, the Orioles organization, my teammates and coaches. The University of Maryland Children’s Hospital with whom I will continue to be involved with following my retirement and, of course, Birdland. Thank you all for the many memories that I will cherish forever.”

The Orioles acquired Davis in a trade from the Texas Rangers in 2011. The trade cost Baltimore pitcher Koji Uehara. It’s fair to say the Orioles won that deal.

Despite his recent struggles at the plate, Davis has made the Orioles a much better team over the last decade. Davis was a key member of the 2012 Orioles team that found themselves back in the postseason for the first time in 15 years. During the season, Davis notched 75 runs on 139 hits, 85 RBIs, and hit 33 home runs – a career-high for him at the time.

Chris Davis makes history

Davis found himself in the record books the following season. The Orioles finished 4th place in the American League East in 2013, but not because of Davis.

At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Davis not only held the franchise record for most home runs in a single season (53), he also led MLB in dingers. To put that into perspective, the second-highest home run total that season was 44, slugged by Miguel Cabrera.

In 2013, Davis also led the league in RBIs (138), extra-base hits (96), and total bases (370).

Davis found himself sitting atop the home run leaders category again in 2015 with 47.

Birdland will always welcome Chris Davis as their own

Following the announcement by Davis, the Orioles released a statement of their own.

“The Orioles support Chris Davis as he retires from baseball today,” the team said in a statement. “We thank Chris for his 11 years of service to the club, to Orioles fans, and to the Baltimore community.”

Cheers to retirement, Crush. You certainly earned it.