Citing the Pain of a Demanding Job, Buster Posey Retires at 34

Playing 12 years in the major leagues takes its toll on the body, but no position is more demanding than catcher. Still, despite the wear and tear and injuries, Posey became one of the most accomplished players of his generation.

The Giants selected Posey, a Georgia native, out of Florida State University with the fifth overall pick in 2008, and he produced a splendid résumé that may one day land him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Posey won the 2010 N.L. Rookie of the Year Award and the 2012 N.L. Most Valuable Player Award in a career in which he won a batting title, was named to seven All-Star teams, received four Silver Slugger awards and won one Gold Glove Award. And, of course, he won World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14. Since the start of the 2010 season, only Mike Trout, the Angels’ three-time winner of the A.L. M.V.P., has recorded more wins above replacement (77.8) than Posey (57.8), according to FanGraphs.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/sports/baseball/buster-posey-retires.html