MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN ¨C Former Twins first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff announced today that he is retiring from baseball and has been placed on the Voluntarily Retired List.

Kirilloff, 26, hit .248 (198-for-799) with 40 doubles, five triples, 27 home runs, 116 RBI, 62 walks, two stolen bases, 92 runs scored and a .721 OPS in 249 career games across four seasons for the Twins. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was limited to just 57 games in 2024 due to a back injury, hitting .201 (32-for-159) with eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored and a .653 OPS.

Please find below a statement from Kirilloff:

¡°After nine seasons in professional baseball, I¡¯m announcing my decision to step away from the game today. Baseball has always been a cornerstone of my life. Starting with my childhood in western Pennsylvania, where I grew up as the son of a baseball coach. Spending countless hours in the batting cages, hitting hundreds of balls daily, fueled my dream of playing Major League Baseball. Living that dream has been an absolute joy ¨C and this journey has been filled with unforgettable moments, challenges that led to growth, and lasting experiences that have enriched my life beyond measure.

¡°During my career, I¡¯ve encountered numerous injuries, which led me to search for new ways to overcome the pain constantly. These challenges have taken a toll on me mentally and physically; over time, I¡¯ve realized that my passion for playing the game has shifted. Baseball demands an ¡®all-in¡¯ approach, something I¡¯ve brought to every season. However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I¡¯ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.

¡°I am deeply grateful for the support I¡¯ve received from my wife, family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, and fans throughout my career. There are so many people to thank, and I will personally thank them. Your belief in me made all the difference, and I will be forever grateful. I¡¯d like to thank the Minnesota Twins for giving me an opportunity. The things I was able to experience, I¡¯ll be able to take with me the rest of my life.

¡°As I navigate the recovery process for my current lower back injury, I¡¯m excited to focus more on my family and explore new opportunities. While this next chapter won¡¯t take place on the field, my story is far from over.¡±

A first-round selection by the Twins in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft (15th pick overall), Kirilloff won the 2018 Sherry Robertson Award as Twins minor league Player of the Year, after hitting .348 (178-for-512) with 44 doubles, seven triples, 20 home runs, 101 RBI, 38 walks, 75 runs scored and a .970 OPS in 130 games combined between Low-A Cedar Rapids and High-A Fort Myers. He made his major league debut for the Twins on September 30, 2020 in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros and went 1-for-4, becoming the first player in American League/National League history to record a Postseason hit before recording one in the regular season. Kirilloff was also the third player in AL/NL history to make his debut in the playoffs, but the first to start.