MLB Batting Champion and Two-Time All-Star Tim Anderson Retires at 33

Major League Baseball (MLB) batting champion and shortstop Tim Anderson, 33, has announced his retirement from professional baseball at a relatively early age.

MLB.com reported today (August 11, Korea Standard Time) that Anderson expressed his intention to retire during a video interview with Chicago-area reporters.

The report added that Anderson was overcome with emotion while announcing his retirement and was unable to speak for about 15 to 20 seconds.

He said, "I've tried for the past two to three years to make a comeback," adding, "At this point, returning to play as a player just doesn't feel right for me."

He continued, "I'm happier now that I can wake up in the morning, spend time with my kids, and live a real life," and noted, "Life is so much bigger than making people happy with a bat and a ball."

Anderson was selected by the White Sox with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft and made his big league debut in 2016.

After playing eight seasons with the White Sox, he spent time with the Miami Marlins in 2024 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, recording a career batting average of .276 with 98 home runs, 350 RBIs, and 122 stolen bases across 991 MLB games.

In 2019, he batted .335 with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs to capture the American League (AL) batting title, and he won the AL Silver Slugger award at shortstop in 2020.

He was selected as an All-Star in two consecutive years, in 2021 and 2022, and played for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

However, after injuring his left hand in 2022 and spraining his left knee in 2023, he failed to regain his prime form.

Last year with the Angels, he struggled with a .205 batting average and 3 RBIs in 31 games before being released, and he failed to find a team this year.

The White Sox plan to honor Anderson ahead of their game against the Detroit Tigers on September 18 by hosting an event titled "Return of the Southside," named after the South Side of Chicago, where the team is based.

On that day, the players will wear the Nike City Connect "Southside" uniforms worn by Anderson and his teammates during their 2021 AL Central division-winning season.

Anderson said, "The White Sox gave me an opportunity and stood by me," adding, "It is only right that I come back and retire as a White Sox player."

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.