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Infielder Kevin Youkilis has decided to retire from baseball after a ten-year major league career, according to a tweet from his agency, Pro Star Management. Youkilis spent the 2014 season in Japan, appearing in 21 games for the Rakuten Golden Eagles.
15-yr client, Kevin Youkilis, after deep thought about family and health, is calling it a career. Been a great one! Love ya, Youk. #YOOOUUUK
— Pro Star Management (@prostarmgmt) October 30, 2014
In ten major league seasons with the Red Sox (2004-2012), White Sox (2012) and Yankees (2013), Youkilis posted a lifetime .281/.382/.478 line with 150 home runs and 618 RBI. He was named to the AL All-Star team on three occasions (2008, 2009, 2011) and finished third in the AL MVP voting in 2008 after hitting .312 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI.
Youkilis won two World Series rings in his career (2004, 2007) as well as a Gold Glove (2007) and Hank Aaron Award (2008). He was known as an above-average defender who could play both corner infield positions, and one of the best on-base batters of the last decade.