- Mike Moustakas Retirement Marks an Era’s End with Kansas City Royals
The Mike Moustakas retirement brings a close to 13 years of major league memories, and he’s choosing to hang up his cleats with the team that started it all—the Kansas City Royals. The 36-year-old infielder, affectionately known as “Moose” to fans, will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Royal on May 31, 2025. That evening, before Kansas City’s home game against the Detroit Tigers, the Royals will honor their former star for his grit, heart, and a World Series title that still sparkles in the city’s memory.
Moustakas’ journey began when the Royals picked him second overall in the 2007 amateur draft. By 2011, he was in the big leagues, ready to make his mark. And what a mark he made. Over his career, Moustakas played 1,427 games, hit 215 home runs, and drove in 683 runs while sporting jerseys for Kansas City, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Colorado, and the Los Angeles Angels. A three-time All-Star, he last stepped onto a major league field in September 2023 with the Angels. But it’s his time in Kansas City that fans will cherish as they celebrate Mike Moustakas’s retirement.
The 2015 season was Moustakas’ defining moment. Batting .284 with 22 homers and 82 RBIs, he helped the Royals charge to the AL Central crown. Then, in the postseason, he delivered eight RBIs, powering Kansas City to its first World Series championship since 1985. The city erupted in joy, and Moustakas became a Royals legend. He wasn’t done yet—two years later, he smashed a career-high 38 homers in 2017, and in 2018, he set a personal best with 95 RBIs across stints with the Royals and Brewers.
Moustakas wasn’t just a slugger; he was the heartbeat of a Royals team that brought pride back to Kansas City. His hustle, his clutch hits, and that infectious smile made him a fan favorite. The Mike Moustakas retirement ceremony on May 31, 2025, will give fans a chance to cheer for him one last time at Kauffman Stadium, reflecting on the memories that defined his career.
For Royals fans, it’s a moment to look back on the magic—the roar of the crowd after a Moustakas homer, the thrill of that 2015 playoff run, and the pride of watching a homegrown talent shine. Mike Moustakas didn’t just play baseball; he lived it, and Kansas City will always call him one of their own.
