Gio Urshela announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on May 19, ending a ten-year career. The veteran infielder is best known for his time with the New York Yankees from 2019 to 2021.
Urshela, now 34, shared in an Instagram post that he is grateful for his baseball career and looks forward to spending more time with his children. “Today is the day. The day you never dream about, the day you never imagine, the day you never expect to come … but deep down you know that one day it will arrive,” Urshela wrote. “Today is the day to close this chapter as a professional player, and this is not a moment to be sad, it is a moment to be grateful to God for allowing me to play this beautiful sport that changed my life.”
Earlier in the year, Urshela signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins and was invited to Spring Training but was released before Opening Day. He also played for Colombia in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
During his MLB tenure, Urshela played for several teams including Cleveland (where he debuted in 2015), Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees, Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics. His most notable season came with New York in 2019 when he hit .314 with 21 home runs and helped lead the team to the American League Championship Series.
Urshela finished his career with an overall Wins Above Replacement (bWAR) of 8.5 according to Baseball-Reference and participated in four postseason runs. Reflecting on those who supported him throughout his journey he said: “And to every person who, in one way or another, helped make my career much better — THANK YOU,” adding “I will always carry you in my heart, and the beautiful memories will stay with me forever.”
Urshela’s decision marks another milestone as veteran players from recent seasons transition out of professional baseball.
