Former Red Sox third baseman and World Series champion Will Middlebrooks has announced his retirement. Middlebrooks was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft and debuted with the team in 2012.
During his rookie season, Middlebrooks slashed a strong .288/.325/.509 in 76 games with 15 home runs. Despite having a good rookie season, Middlebrooks fell from grace the next season, hitting a low .227/.271/.425 in 2013.
Despite struggling in 2013, Middlebrooks hit 17 home runs, three of which came on April 7 that year. Middlebrooks would continue to struggle in 2014, hitting below .200 and losing the little power he already had.
After signing free agent Pablo Sandoval in the 2014-15 offseason, the Red Sox traded Middlebrooks to the San Diego Padres for Ryan Hanigan. Middlebrooks would barely hit above the Mendoza line with the Padres, leading to him being non-tendered at the end of the season.
Middlebrooks has signed three minor league contracts since 2015, resulting in only 33 games in the majors during that time span. During a spring training game with the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 25, 2018, Middlebrooks fractured a fibula, which caused him to miss the entire 2018 season and eventually force him into retirement.
