Howie Kendrick, best known for his post-season heroics with the Washington Nationals in 2019, has announced his retirement after 15 MLB seasons.
The Florida born Kendrick was a 10th round draft pick by the Anaheim Angels in 2002. Kendrick would make his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2006. Kendrick would spend nine seasons in Anaheim with his best season coming in 2011 when he was selected to his lone AL All-Star Team hitting a career high 18 HR.
The Angels would trade Kendrick crosstown to the Dodgers following the 2014 season in exchange for pitcher Andrew Heaney. After two seasons in Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers traded Kendrick to the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal which included Darrin Ruf. Kendrick would only spend a half season in Philly before being sent to the Washington Nationals.
Primarily a second baseman, Kendrick occasionally played the outfield and first base. A steady but unspectacular player, Kendrick would hit a career high .344 and enjoy the limelight in the 2019 post-season. Kendrick would dash the hopes of Dodgers' fans when he hit an extra inning grand slam HR off Joe Kelly to win the NLDS. Kendrick would earn the 2019 NLCS MVP going 5 for 15 with 4 RBIs. In Game 7 of the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros, Kendrick hit the deciding go ahead HR off reliever Will Harris with a dugout celebration to remember.
Kendrick, 37, re-signed with the Nats in 2020. In 25 games in the COVID-19 shortened season, Kendrick hit .275 with 2 HR and 14 RBI. In 1621 MLB games, Kendrick collected 1747 hits for a lifetime batting average of .294 with 127 HR and 724 RBI. This won't get him to Cooperstown, but he'll never have to pay for a meal in D.C. ever again.
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