Former New York Mets Gold Glove award-winning center fielder Juan Lagares has retired from MLB after 10 seasons.
Lagares, 36, announced his retirement in a series of posts to his Instagram. He last played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels in 2022.
A native of Constanza, Dominican Republic, Lagares spent the past four seasons playing for the Dominican Winter League’s Águilas Cibaeñas, where he served as team captain.
“THANK YOU, JUAN LAGARES! THE CAPTAIN,” the Cibaeñas wrote in an Instagram post. “Your legacy is not measured in numbers, but in respect, effort, and greatness. This will always be your home!”
Lagares signed with the Mets as an international free agent at age 17 in May 2006. He made his MLB debut in 2013 and played his first eight MLB seasons with the Mets from 2013-20. He won the National League Gold Glove Award for center field in 2014, and that season recorded single-season career-highs on offense with 117 hits, 24 doubles, 47 RBI and 13 steals.
After eight seasons in New York, Lagares played his final two seasons with the Angels from 2021-22.
In 10 MLB seasons, Lagares hit .250 with 31 home runs, 217 RBI and a .651 OPS in 850 games played.
The Mets issued a statement wishing Lagares well in retirement.