After more than a decade in the Major Leagues, Alex Wood decided to hang up his glove. The 34-year-old left-hander, remembered for being a key piece in breaking the Dodgers' pennant drought in 2017 and winning the World Series in 2020, announced his retirement this Friday through an Instagram post.

"Baseball was my first love. Outside of God and my family, nothing else has shaped me like this game has," wrote Wood, who had not played since 2024, when he had a brief stint with the Oakland Athletics. Even writing this, I can't help but smile at how much I still love the game after all this time.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Wood began his career in 2013 with the Atlanta Braves before joining the Dodgers in a three-team trade in 2015. His best season came in 2017, when he started the season 10-0 and finished it 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA and earned an All-Star selection. He finished in the top 10 in NL Cy Young voting that year.

A journey with five franchises

In total, Wood compiled 77 wins, 68 losses and a 3.78 ERA in 278 games (211 starts) split between the Braves, Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants and Athletics. In addition to his explosion in 2017, he has experienced a rebound with San Francisco in 2021, posting a 10-4 record and contributing to the club's surprising 107-win season.

The left-hander was also part of the Dodgers' championship team in 2020, appearing in four postseason games during their run to the title. However, his final years were marred by injuries, including shoulder surgery that cut short his final season.

In his statement, Wood thanked his teammates, coaches, five franchises, and fans. He also dedicated special words to his wife, children, and parents, acknowledging the pivotal role they played in his career. "Playing 12 years in the Major Leagues, reaching seven postseasons, Winning a World Series and being selected for an All-Star Game... I would never have imagined things would turn out this way, he said.