KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the Kansas City Royals' most popular players during the team's run of consecutive American League pennants in 2014 and 2015 announced Monday that he will retire as a member of the team.
Former Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas said he will sign a one-day contract later this spring while at the team's spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona.
"This city, this organization means so much to me and my family," Moustakas stated in a video provided by the Royals.
He will sign the one-day contract with the club on May 31.
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 08: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals rounds the bases on his home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 8, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
A retirement ceremony will take place that afternoon before the Royals' home game against the Detroit Tigers at 3:10 p.m.
Moustakas was the tone-setter for the Royals' rebuilding efforts after years as an also-ran in the American League.
SEATTLE, WA - JULY 05: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates their win against the Seattle Mariners with Mike Moustakas #8 and Eric Hosmer #35 at Safeco Field on July 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
Moustakas, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Chatsworth, California, reached the big leagues in 2011 and appeared in 89 games as a rookie with the Royals.
Royals fans regularly greeted fans with shouts of "Moose" each time he came to the plate or made a sparkling play in the field. He hit 22 home runs and drove in 82 during Kansas City's run to the World Series title in 2015.
He later set a then-Royals record 38 home runs in 2017 and was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Kansas City traded Moustakas to Milwaukee during the 2018 season. He later played for the Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Moustakas, who slashed .247/.307/.431 with 215 home runs and 683 RBIs in 13 MLB seasons. went to spring training with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 before retiring from professional baseball.
In 934 games across eight seasons with the Royals, Moustakas posted a .736 OPS with 858 hits, 388 runs scored, 184 doubles, 139 home runs and 441 RBIs.
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