On August 4, 2018, St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong was spotted at the batting cage ahead of a matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Now, in a move reminiscent of the Frank Sinatra classic “My Way,” veteran MLB infielder Kolten Wong is officially calling it a career.
While speaking to local reporters at the University of Hawaii, his alma mater, Wong announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. In town to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a University of Hawaii game, the former Cardinals star shared that his focus is now on his family, particularly being present for his two children.
“At this point, I’m done,” Wong said, as reported by Brian McInnis of Spectrum News Hawaii. “I’ve come to terms with the fact that it’s time to hang it up. The game is evolving, and there’s no reason for me to keep chasing it. I’m a dad now, and that’s my priority. I want to be the best big-league dad I can be.”
Now 34, Wong broke into the majors with the Cardinals in 2013 and stayed with the team until 2020. Though early in his career he was remembered for a costly baserunning mistake in the 2013 World Series, he went on to become a postseason standout for St. Louis and won Gold Gloves at second base in both 2019 and 2020.
He later played two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .262 during that span, before brief stints with the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. Wong last played in the majors with the Dodgers in 2023. He signed a minor-league deal with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 but didn’t make it back to the MLB roster.
Wong made headlines earlier this year with candid remarks about Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday. Now, after 11 MLB seasons and earning over \$47 million, he’s stepping into the next chapter of life.