Infielder Drew Ellis, who last appeared in MLB with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, announced his immediate retirement from baseball May 26 in a post on his Instagram account.
Ellis, 30, played 47 games over three seasons (2021-23) with the Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. He finishes his career with a .157 batting average, three home runs and 10 RBIs.
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A Kentucky native, Ellis represented his region at the 2008 Little League World Series. He finished his playing career with the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, in 2025.
“What an unbelievable journey it’s been the last 20 years,” Ellis wrote on Instagram. “Playing a game for a living and traveling the country to places I could only ever dream of going. I’ve created so many memories and friendships during my playing career and I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. It’s mind blowing that a little ball with some seams on it can take you to places you’d never thought you’d go.”
Ellis was chosen in the second round (44th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Louisville by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent the next five years in the Arizona system, reaching the majors in July 2021 and getting into 28 games with the Dbacks.
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Less than a year later, Ellis was designated for assignment by Arizona and claimed off waivers by the Mariners. He played all but one of his next 71 games at Triple-A, going 1 for 3 in his only game with the Mariners.
After spending the 2023 season in the Phillies’ system, mostly at Triple-A, Ellis spent the 2024 season with the Angels’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
Ellis slashed .222/.333/.437 in 52 games last year at Sacramento.
“I think every player thinks they could play forever,” Ellis wrote in his Instagram post. “You made it possible for a kid from Jeff to play at the highest level, with and against the best players in the world. It was an experience like no other. I will forever be grateful for you.”
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