Jun 27, 2018; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) watches after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

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Mike Moustakas to officially end career where it began with one-day Royals contract

Mike Moustakas makes his retirement official

Mike Moustakas is officially closing the book on his baseball career, and he’s doing it where it all began. The longtime third baseman announced his retirement on Monday, and in a fitting tribute to his legacy, he will sign a one-day contract with the Kansas City Royals on May 31 to retire with the franchise that drafted him.

Always a Royal. 👑

Join us on May 31st for a pregame ceremony to celebrate Mike Moustakas' career as he retires as a Royal! pic.twitter.com/H69sV1B68l
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 3, 2025

The move follows a similar gesture by the Royals in 2023 when they honored Lorenzo Cain’s retirement in the same way. Moustakas, a three-time All-Star, played a pivotal role in Kansas City’s resurgence, most notably during their 2015 World Series-winning campaign. That season, he posted a .284 average with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs across 147 games, helping the Royals capture the AL Central before making a significant impact in the postseason.

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Drafted second overall by Kansas City in 2007 out of Chatsworth Charter High School in California, Moustakas debuted in the majors in 2011. Over his 13-year career, he played in 1,427 games, batting .247 with 215 home runs and 683 RBIs. Beyond Kansas City, he also played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels, with his final major league appearance coming on September 30, 2023, with the Angels.

Moustakas will forever be remembered in Royals history for his role in bringing a championship back to Kansas City for the first time since 1985. His upcoming retirement ceremony ensures he’ll officially end his career as a Royal.

Kansas City Royals

Mike Moustakas

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.