Alex Kirillov, once considered one of the top prospects in the Twins’ organization, announced Thursday that he is retiring from the sport after four injury-plagued seasons in the major leagues.
Kirillov, who turns 27 on Nov. 9, played 249 games in his career with the Twins, but never played more than 88 games in a season. He underwent complex surgery on his right wrist that snapped a bone in half, and described the diagnosis of his season-ending back injury this year as a chronic stress fracture and a slipped vertebra.
A first baseman and outfielder, Kirilloff hit .248 with 27 homers and 116 RBI in his career.
Kirillov, who announced his retirement on social media before holding a press conference, said: “During my career, I suffered many injuries, which prompted me to constantly search for new ways to overcome pain.” “These challenges took a toll on me mentally and physically. Over time, I realized that my passion for playing the game had changed.
“Baseball requires a holistic approach, something I bring to every season. However, I can no longer give it the full commitment it requires.”
Kirillov was the 15th pick in the 2016 MLB amateur draft out of a Pittsburgh-area high school and received a $2.8 million bonus. He said his first thoughts of retirement came to his mind when he had surgery on his wrist in 2022. It’s a rare surgery for baseball players, and he wondered what his life without baseball would look like if he didn’t recover well from the surgery.
He has seen three doctors to treat his current back condition — spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis — and his latest doctor in Miami hopes for a full recovery in six months to a year.
“Baseball has been my life up to this point every year — traveling and playing,” Kirilloff said. “It’s uncharted territory for me to take this next step and this next chapter. It’s a leap of faith for me. It’s something that feels like the right time now and something that will allow my body to reset itself without the demands of baseball. I definitely see the bright side.”
