Trevor May retires after career-best 21 saves in 2023

OAKLAND -- After nearly a decade of living out his childhood dream as a Major League pitcher, Trevor May is calling it a career.

May, 34, was set to hit free agency this offseason following one of the most successful seasons of his career with the A’s. Instead, the right-hander has elected to retire from professional baseball.

“I am officially announcing my retirement from professional baseball,” May said on Monday during a live stream on his Twitch channel. “I am no longer playing baseball. ... I am happy.”

May, a fourth-round pick of the Twins in the 2008 MLB Draft, was utilized as a starting pitcher early on with Minnesota before transitioning to the bullpen. He had Tommy John surgery in 2017, and carved out a quality role as a high-leverage reliever upon his return, producing a 3.49 ERA with 306 strikeouts in 247 1/3 innings through 256 games from 2018-23.

In a 2023 campaign that will end up being his final Major League season, May signed a one-year deal with the A's and achieved a longtime goal of performing in a closer role for the first time in his career.

May responded with a 3.28 ERA in 49 relief appearances and notched a career-high 21 saves, none more special than his save against the Mariners on Aug. 29 at T-Mobile Park, the stadium he grew up frequenting as a kid growing up in Washington.

“I chose the A’s this year, because I wanted to make meaningful connections with my teammates and fans in the game, and not worry about everything being under a microscope,” May said. “I think I got everything I wanted out of this year, and more. I loved those guys in the clubhouse. I love the A’s organization. I love the people that I met and got to hang out with. ... It was really awesome.”

Across nine big league seasons with the Twins, Mets and A’s, May posted a 4.24 ERA in 358 games with 520 strikeouts over 450 1/3 innings.

“I just want to go out on my own terms,” May said. “A vast majority of guys retire because the game is saying you’re not good enough to play anymore. Watching yourself slowly decline until you’re fighting just to be relevant and have a job sounds awful, especially when I enjoy all the other stuff so much more.”

While May will no longer pitch professionally, he still has a desire to remain heavily involved with the game of baseball in a number of ways. One avenue is his baseball channel on YouTube, as well an upcoming opportunity to cover the MLB playoffs on SiriusXM radio.

“I love talking pitching. I love teaching people about the game of baseball,” May said. “I’m probably going to start my own show covering the game, because I love baseball. ... This is not the end of my relationship with baseball.

"If anything, I’m going to do more stuff now with the game.”