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Red Sox All-Star, World Series Champion Retires at 36
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Pitcher Matt Barnes, who won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and made his only All-Star team three years later, announced his retirement via social media.
“When I look back at my baseball career, there isn’t a single thing I would change,” Barnes wrote. “I was able to live out not only my dream, but the dream of so many kids who pick up a baseball hoping one day they’ll hear their name called. For that, I’ll be forever grateful.”
The right-hander finished his career with a 33-30 record and 4.21 ERA in 467 regular season appearances over parts of 11 seasons (2014-24).
It's been more than two years since Barnes' last appearance on a major league mound. He had a 6.75 ERA across 14 appearances with the Washington Nationals before he was released in May 2024.
“Congratulations to Matt Barnes on his retirement from Major League Baseball,” his agency, ISE, wrote on Instagram . “Over an 11-year MLB career, Matt was a World Series Champion, American League All-Star, and he ranks third all-time in games pitched for the Boston Red Sox. Thank you for everything you contributed to the game on and off the field.”
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Barnes was originally selected by the Red Sox in the first round (19th overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft out of UConn. A Danbury, Conn., native, Barnes made his MLB debut in 2014.
Four years later, Barnes played an instrumental role in helping Boston win the World Series.
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Barnes saw action in 10 postseason games in October 2018 as the Red Sox marched to the championship. He allowed only one run in 8.2 innings, establishing himself as one of Alex Cora’s most dependable middle relievers that October. Barnes was credited with wins in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, and Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, throwing a scoreless inning out of the bullpen in each game.
Barnes was the Red Sox's primary closer in 2021, when he saved 24 games and made the only All-Star team of his career. The right-hander finished his career with one season with the Miami Marlins (2023) and one in Washington (2024).
“When I look back at my baseball career, there isn’t a single thing I would change,” Barnes wrote on Threads. “I was able to live out not only my dream, but the dream of so many kids who pick up a baseball hoping one day they’ll hear their name called. For that, I’ll be forever grateful.”
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