10-year vet Urshela, with signature '19 for Yankees, announces retirement
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After 10 years in MLB, Gio Urshela is hanging up his cleats.
The veteran infielder, best known for his time with the Yankees from 2019-2021, announced his retirement on Monday. Now 34, Urshela wrote in an Instagram post how thankful he is for his career, as well as that he’s happy to be able to spend more time with his children moving forward.
“Today is the day. The day you never dream about, the day you never imagine, the day you never expect to come … but deep down you know that one day it will arrive,” Urshela wrote. “Today is the day to close this chapter as a professional player, and this is not a moment to be sad, it is a moment to be grateful to God for allowing me to play this beautiful sport that changed my life.”
Urshela signed a Minor League deal with the Twins in February that included an invite to Spring Training, but the club released him before the start of the season. He also represented his native Colombia in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, recording two hits, five walks and an RBI in four games.
Urshela spent 2025 with the Athletics, also playing for the Blue Jays, Twins, Angels, Tigers, Braves and Cleveland in his career. He debuted in Cleveland in 2015 as the organization’s No. 4 prospect. His two years there were unceremonious, accumulating -0.9 Baseball-Reference WAR before a trade to the Blue Jays, where he struggled again in 19 games.
But Urshela then had his breakout, making the most of a second trade to the Yankees. He became a key piece of the 2019 Bronx Bombers, slashing .314/.355/.534 with 21 home runs and a career-high 3.8 bWAR, as New York ran to the American League Championship Series.
Urshela had similar success in the shortened 2020 season and in 2022 with the Twins. Ultimately, he served as an above-replacement utility man until his final year in 2025, accumulating 8.5 bWAR in his career. He additionally played in the postseason four times, with a pair of homers in the 2019 ALCS against the Astros his hallmark.
“And to every person who, in one way or another, helped make my career much better -- THANK YOU,” Urshela continued in his announcement. “I will always carry you in my heart, and the beautiful memories will stay with me forever.”