The first time Alex Kirillov started thinking about whether he could continue his baseball career was after a wrist injury that required surgery in August 2022. During the procedure, doctors inserted plates and screws into his wrist and shaved one bone in half to prevent it from rubbing against another bone.
In the 26 months since Kirillov’s ulnar shortening procedure, his second surgery on his wrist, he has undergone a labrum cleanup and continues to deal with a lower back injury that could take six to 12 months to heal.
The combined weight of those injuries led to the 26-year-old Minnesota Twins outfielder’s stunning retirement Thursday morning. Days before his 27th birthday, the former top-10 player announced he was “at peace” with his decision to step away from baseball after four major league seasons.
Injuries limited Kirillov, who made his debut during the 2020 playoffs, to 249 big-league games. He hit .248/.309/.412 with 27 home runs in 883 career plate appearances.
“Life is hard,” Kirillov said. “Two years ago, if you told me we were going to have this conversation, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are now. There are certainly things I’ll miss about baseball and the game, but ultimately there’s a lot that plays into a decision like this at this time. I’m definitely in.” “Peace be with her.”
All the best, AK ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uW9PIUHZva
– Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 31, 2024
Kirillov, a standout minor league hitter, seemed destined for stardom after the Twins selected him 15th overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. He impressed immediately, batting .306/.341/.454 at Rookie Ball-Elizabethton in 2016 before An elbow injury, which eventually led to Tommy John surgery, ended his 2016 campaign early.
Along with 2017 first-round pick Royce Lewis, Kirillov was expected to play a prominent role in the Twins’ future. He hit .324/.380/.524 over parts of seven minor league seasons and was ranked ninth in a ranking of the top 100 MLB prospects prior to the 2019 season.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out his 2020 minor league season, his hitting at the team’s alternate site in St. Paul, Minnesota, led to the Twins pitching Kirillov for the Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros. He made his debut in the second of two losses and featured four trips to the plate.
Kirillov began the 2021 season again at the team’s alternate site but was promoted on April 23, 2021. He struggled in his first two weeks in the major leagues before hitting four home runs over three games, the first home run of his career. But even though he showed flashes, Kirillov played through a right wrist injury that required surgery later that summer, finishing with a .722 OPS.
Although he cracked the 2022 Opening Day roster, a slow recovery from his first wrist surgery led to him being demoted to Triple A after just five games. Kirillov’s bat heated up quickly in Triple-A St. Louis. Paul But the production didn’t move to the majors as his wrist continued to bother him, leading to a second procedure that was far more intrusive than the first.
“I was optimistic and very confident that it was going to work out, but at the same time…in the back of my mind, I was like, ‘Okay, what’s Plan B if it doesn’t work out?’ What does my life look like without baseball? What would I enjoy doing?’ ‘Kirillov said.
Finally healthy and with a good program to manage his wrist, Kirillov began to hit his stride during the 2023 season. He found his stroke and produced a career-best .793 OPS, hitting 11 home runs and driving in 41 runs in 319 plate appearances. But a shoulder injury sustained while diving for a ball slowed Kirillov down and continued into the postseason, eliminating him from the playoff roster.
Kirillov’s problems continued last season as he suffered a chronic stress fracture and slipped vertebrae. After a good start to the season, his production declined, resulting in him being temporarily demoted to Triple A in June. Several days into his time in St. Paul, Kirillov informed the Twins of the serious nature of his back injury.
He has since visited three doctors to get additional opinions on his back. The latest doctors have told Kirillov that he will likely return his spine to a healthy position after six to 12 months of rehabilitation.
Although he expects to miss the sport, Kirillov is optimistic about life after baseball. He is looking forward to a more routine-oriented lifestyle and not constantly moving. He is excited to spend more time with his wife and two young daughters. He is considering pursuing a career in real estate.
“This will be a change, which excites me,” Kirillov said. “Baseball has been my life up to this point every year — traveling and playing. 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 is now and it’s something that will allow my body to reset itself without the demands of Baseball, I definitely see the bright side.”
(Photo: Adam Hanger/Getty Images)
