Veteran infielder Matt Carpenter has officially announced his retirement from professional baseball. The announcement came during his appearance on the Get In The Game podcast hosted by former MLB pitcher Scott Linebrink, as reported by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“I wanted to take this opportunity on this podcast, here with you, and officially announce my retirement from baseball,” Carpenter said. “I was very fortunate enough to play for some great organizations, and had quite a thrill being able to don the St. Louis Cardinals logo for many years, a brief stint with the New York Yankees, and also the San Diego Padres.” He went on to thank his family and shared his excitement for the next chapter in his life.
Carpenter, 39, had not ruled out returning in 2025 as recently as last September, following a season with the Cardinals in which he battled injuries and posted a 95 wRC+ over 157 plate appearances. Despite striking out at a 32.5% rate, his performance was still considered solid for a bench role. However, with the Cardinals looking to focus more on their younger talent in 2025, a reunion didn’t materialize.
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Carpenter spent 12 of his 14 seasons in St. Louis. He made his major league debut in 2011 with a short stint before breaking out in 2012. That season, as a 26-year-old rookie, he hit .294/.365/.463 over 114 games, showcasing his versatility by playing first base, second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots. His performance earned him a sixth-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting, even though he only hit six home runs in 340 plate appearances.
