CINCINNATI (WKRC) – After 13 Major League seasons, Cincinnati native Josh Harrison officially announced his retirement, marking the occasion exactly 14 years after his MLB debut. The 37-year-old expressed gratitude to his family, teammates, and the sport itself in a heartfelt post on his X account.
“Thank you for helping shape me, humble me, and give me a platform to grow, not just as a player, but as a man,” Harrison said. “I’m blessed to have been a 2x All-Star and to play for as long as I did, but I never sought to prove people wrong, only to prove myself right in my beliefs. With that being said, future players don’t let other people’s expectations of you limit you from reaching your full potential. Put in the work and go get what you deserve.”
Harrison, a sixth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 draft out of the University of Cincinnati, never played for the Cubs at the MLB level. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009, where he made his big league debut in 2011. Over eight seasons with the Pirates, Harrison became a two-time All-Star and played a pivotal role in the team’s postseason appearances from 2013 to 2015.
In 2014, Harrison had his best season, hitting .315/.347/.490 with 13 home runs and finishing ninth in NL MVP voting. His performance earned him a four-year, $27.3 million extension with the Pirates in 2015.
Harrison’s career also included stints with the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. He concluded his MLB career with a .270 batting average, 73 home runs, and 91 stolen bases over 1,208 games. He played every position in his career except catcher, including six appearances on the mound.
Harrison also won the 2014 MLB Heart & Hustle Award.
Harrison’s final MLB appearance was with the Phillies on July 30, 2023, coincidentally against the Pirates.
Harrison, a Princeton High School graduate, attempted to make the Cincinnati Reds out of Spring Training prior to the 2024 season but was released by the team in late March.