Cameron Maybin, a long-time major league outfielder, announced his retirement on Monday.
Between 2007 and 2011, the 34-year-old played for ten different clubs in 15 major league seasons. He played the majority of that time with the Padres and Marlins, each for four seasons.
“I’ve played this game since I was 4 years old,” he tweeted. “Three decades later, my love for baseball is only matched by the love I have for the family that’s supported me every step of the way.
“Although my journey as a professional baseball player ends here with the announcement of my retirement, my work in this game is just getting started. I’m excited for what lies ahead, including my work with the Players Alliance in our effort to provide access and opportunity for the next generation of Black ballplayers.”
Maybin was expected to seek out opportunities in 2022 as a veteran depth option for teams. However, he preferred to retire from his career and not enter the complicated free-agent market.
A base-runner known for his speed and agility, Maybin stole a career-high 40 bases in 2011 for the Padres. He finished his career with a .254 batting average, 354 RBIs, 72 home runs, and 187 stolen bases.
“I am the man I am today because of this game and the teams that gave a young kid from Asheville, North Carolina a chance to be great,” Maybin wrote. “To the coaches, agents, mentors and most importantly the fans, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your support.”
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. pic.twitter.com/oSSX5WZ83F
— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) January 3, 2022
Maybin’s baseball career
Back in 2005, the Detroit Tigers selected Maybin as their tenth overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft. He made quick work of his minor league competition and received plenty of praises for his performance when he was just 19 years old.
From 2007 until his prospect eligibility expired in 2009, Baseball America consistently ranked the speedy outfielder among the top ten prospects in the sport.
In 2007, Maybin made his major league debut for the Tigers but was traded to the Marlins along with Andrew Miller and others for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. A few years later, Maybin was a target for a second trade when the Padres acquired him to be their starting center fielder in exchange for relievers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica.
It didn’t take long for San Diego to take to Maybin, as he broke out with a 40-steal, 103 OPS+ showing in his first season on the West Coast. Maybin signed a 5-year, $25MM extension before the 2012 season as a result of that performance and his stellar glove up the middle.
Maybin was involved in yet another high-profile trade prior to his contract’s expiration when the new Padres general manager, A.J. Preller, made a strong first impression by securing closer Craig Kimbrel from the Braves in an Opening Day deal.
Maybin moved around between eight teams after a year in Atlanta, bringing speed and modest offense in the outfield and off the bench. He had a resurgent year in 2016 after reuniting with the Tigers, posting a 118 OPS+ in 94 games. With an injury-ravaged Yankees team, he posted a .285/.364/.494 (127 OPS+) line in 82 games.