Eight-year MLB veteran Kevin Plawecki announced his retirement on social media today. Plawecki’s announcement comes shortly after the Padres revealed their minor league coaching staff for 2025, where Plawecki is listed as an instructor for the club’s Arizona Complex League team.
“As I close the chapter on a playing career I’m excited for what the future holds. I still know I have a lot to give this game which has blessed me with so much,” Plawecki said in his announcement. “I look forward to joining the Padres as a coach in minor league player development this upcoming season. Thank you for all the love and support over the years! The best is yet to come! See y’all at a stadium near you!”
The 33-year-old was selected 35th overall by the Mets back in 2012 and made his big league debut with the club during the 2015 season. Plawecki was a consensus top-100 prospect at the time of his debut but struggled to hit at the major league level, with a .211/.287/.285 slash line in 121 games between the 2015 and ’16 campaigns. His offense took a step forward over the next two campaigns, though he remained a part-time player as he slashed .225/.330/.379 with a roughly league average 96 wRC+. Those four partial seasons concluded Plawecki’s time with the Mets, as he was traded to Cleveland prior to the 2019 season in a swap that saw New York acquire Walker Lockett and Sam Haggerty. Unfortunately for Plawecki, he struggled to hit with his new club and was non-tendered during the 2019-20 offseason.
That led to Plawecki signing with the Red Sox prior to the 2020 season, which quickly proved to be the most successful year of his career. While the catcher was shelved by a hamstring strain and a COVID-19 diagnosis that limited him to just 24 games during the shortened 60-game campaign, Plawecki hit quite well when he was healthy enough to take the field. The then-29-year-old posted a strong .341/.393/.463 slash line in 89 trips to the plate for the club that year as they made it all the way to the ALCS. Plawecki remained with the Red Sox for two additional seasons afterwards as a back-up to Christian Vázquez. He posted solid results in 2021 but took a step back in 2022, hitting just .217/.287/.287 in 60 games before being designated for assignment late in the year.
Plawecki was picked up by the Rangers late in the 2022 season and appeared in three games for the club, which ultimately proved to be the final three games of his big league career. The veteran bounced between the Rangers, Nationals, and Padres organizations on minor league deals in 2023 before spending the entire 2024 season in the Padres’ minor league system but never made it back to the majors after 2022. He walks away from his playing days a career .235/.313/.342 hitter across 449 MLB games, with 298 hits (including 22 homers) on his big league resume.
We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Plawecki on a fine career and wish him all the best as he begins the next chapter of his life as a coach in the Padres organization.
