The post Former White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia announces his retirement appeared first on Sox On 35th.
A former White Sox mainstay is hanging up his cleats.
Outfielder Avisail Garcia has announced his retirement on Instagram, bringing an end to his 13-year Major League career.
Today, I formally announce the end of my career in Major League Baseball after 12 seasons of dedication and hard work. Thank you to God for the blessing of fulfilling my childhood dream—of playing baseball at its highest level.
To my family: my eternal gratitude for your unconditional love, constant support, and sacrifices that made every step of this journey possible. To my agent, Gene Mato, and the Mato Sports Management team: thank you for your professional guidance, loyalty, and unwavering support throughout my career. To my teammates, coaches, and staff: thank you for the brotherhood, respect, and shared lessons day in and day out. These good memories will stay in my heart forever… To the teams that trusted me and gave me the opportunity to compete at the highest level… Thank you…
Baseball gave me far more than I could have dreamed: achievements, experiences, and values I will carry with me always. I close this chapter with pride and gratitude, ready for new chapters in life.
With respect and appreciation,
Avisail Garcia
Garcia, 34, was originally signed by the Tigers as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2008. Though little was known about him at the time, he quickly emerged as one of the team’s top hitting prospects. Garcia was frequently compared to Miguel Cabrera for his physical build and offensive profile, and he earned the nickname “Little Miggy” as he worked his way through the system. He made his MLB debut in 2012 and appeared on Detroit’s postseason roster that fall, batting .261/.320/.304 with four RBIs across 12 games in the ALDS, ALCS, and World Series.
Garcia didn’t receive consistent playing time until he was traded to the White Sox in a three-team deal ahead of the 2014 season. He eventually settled in as the everyday right fielder and had his long-awaited breakout campaign in 2017. That season, Garcia earned his lone All-Star selection while posting a career-best .330/.380/.506 slash with an .885 OPS. He was never quite able to replicate that peak, though he did find some success after the White Sox non-tendered him following the 2018 season.
Once he left Chicago, Garcia spent time with the Rays and Brewers, with his best post-White Sox season coming in 2019. He would hit .282/.332/.464 with 20 home runs for Tampa Bay over 135 games, the closest he’d ever come to matching his All-Star campaign.
Garcia later signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Marlins in a move the club would likely reconsider in hindsight. Injuries significantly limited his availability over the final years of his career, as he appeared in just 55 games dating back to 2023. Garcia most recently underwent surgery in October 2024 to address a fracture and disc issue in his lower back and missed the entirety of the 2025 season.
The Venezuelan outfielder closes his MLB career with a .263/.316/.417 slash line, totaling 1,038 hits, 140 home runs, and 524 RBIs across 1,104 regular-season games. His time in the league was marked by peaks and valleys, and he never fully became the superstar many envisioned. Even so, Sox fans will fondly remember him for his All-Star run and the occasional highlight-reel robbery in right field.
Our team at Sox On 35th would like to congratulate Avi on his successful big-league run and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
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Featured Photo: White Sox/X
The post Former White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia announces his retirement appeared first on Sox On 35th.