Late Saturday morning, it was being widely reported on social media that 39-year-old/15-year MLB veteran first baseman and former Dodger Adrián González was retiring from baseball.

Although the five-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, and two-time Silver Slugger hasn’t played in the Major Leagues since June 10, 2018 with the New York Mets, he played professionally with the Mariachis de Guadalajara in his native Mexico in 2021, where he posted a very impressive .340/.412/.531/.943 slash line, with six home runs and 41 RBI.

During his 15 seasons in the Majors, AGon, as he is affectionately known, spent two seasons with the Texas Rangers, five with the San Diego Padres, two with the Boston Red Sox, six with the Dodgers, and one with the aforementioned Mets. He finished those 15 seasons with a career slash line of .287/.358/.485/.843 with 317 home runs and 1,202 RBI; not over the top numbers, but certainly worthy of Hall of Fame consideration in five years (or sooner, if the BBWAA uses his 2018 departure from MLB, which they might).

Saturday’s announcement came from González himself via social media (Instagram):

“I am officially announcing my retirement today.

“I got to play in @MLB for 15 years plus the minor leagues, Mexican summer and winter league. The Caribbean Series, the World Baseball Classic, and the Olympic games. What a blessing.

“First I want to say thank you to my wife @betzabe_onthego my daughters Brianna and Alessandra, my Parents and brothers.

“Betsy, you have been my rock, my support, and always there through the toughest times and the celebrated times. Thank You for being the best wife and mom in the world. I could not have had the career I had without you by my side.

“Pops and Mom, Gracias por su gran apoyo. Toda mi vida nunca me falto nada y pude tener mis logros en este deporte gracias a su apoyo y sus sacrificios que me dieron desde niño.

“Baseball thank you for all you gave me. Great teammates, coaches, memories, and most importantly friends for life.

“I also have to thank my agent John Boggs (@jbasports_ ) Boggsy you are the best. You were there since day one. We flew to Miami to be drafted in 2000, and you went down to Tijuana to watch me play one of my final games of my career. You are family now and I am so grateful you have been my agent my whole career.

“Baseball has been in my dna since I was born and it will always be a part of who I am.
With this I say goodbye to my baseball playing career.

“Thank You to the 6 franchises I played for in MLB. @Marlins@Rangers@Padres@Redsox@Dodgers@Mets thank you.

“I also want to say thank you to my incredible fans. Thank You for all your love and support.

“Its now time to continue on with my life into new and continued businesses and partnerships.“

While much is known about AGon’s outstanding 15-year MLB career, as always, there is some under-the-radar stuff that Dodgers fans might not know of the San Diego, CA native and first overall pick in the 2000 MLB Draft out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA.

During the 2017 season, a (then) 35-year-old González landed on the Injured List for tendinitis in his right elbow. But what absolutely boggles the mind is that this was his first time on the IL … ever – this in his 14th Major League. I mean, who does that?

While recovering from his ‘tennis elbow‘ (as elbow tendinitis is more commonly known), AGon played two rehab games with the (then) Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the highly-competitive California League.

But what baseball fans may not know is that it is an unpublicized practice for rehabbing Major Leaguers (at least for rehabbing Dodgers) to put on a ‘spread‘ (meal) for the Minor League team with whom they are rehabbing. And while it is not unusual for some of these spreads to get a bit elaborate, the spread that AGon put on (financed) for the Quakes after his second – and final – rehab game with them came from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, arguably among the finest steakhouse chains in the country.

Although AGon most certainly did not have to go to such extremes with his spread for the Quakes with many other excellent and far less expensive food options in the area, this is yet another example of who Adrián González is.

There’s class, and then there’s AGon.

The entire staff at ThinkBlueLA.com sends our heartiest congratulation to AGon on his brilliant career and wish he and his beautiful family nothing but the very best in his retirement.

Play Ball!

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