Right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling retires from professional baseball following a nine-year Major League Baseball career. The 35-year-old announced his decision on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Stripling spent time with four different MLB organizations: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics. He signs off after pitching more than 700 innings at the sport's highest level.
"After 13 seasons and full of tremendous pride and gratitude, it's time to hang up the cleats," Stripling wrote in a statement. "I never could have imagined the experiences and memories I'd be a part of. They exceeded every hope that my younger self could have dreamt for my baseball career."
He continued, "It never could have been possible without my family and friends. I also want to give a huge thank you to all my coaches and teammates over the years. I had so much love and support along the way, and I'm thankful to everyone that was a part of it in any form or fashion. All of you helped me be the best baseball player I could be. This has been an unbelievable honor, and I feel incredibly lucky to be so fulfilled and content with leaving the game behind. Now, l'm excited to be home and begin the next chapter of life with my amazing family."
Stripling was a fifth-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2012. He overcame Tommy John surgery early in his professional career to reach the majors, debuting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 as part of the Opening Day rotation.
During four and a half seasons with the Dodgers, he served in both starting and relief roles, posting a 3.68 ERA over more than 400 innings. He was named an All-Star in 2018 and participated in the playoffs in 2016, 2017, and 2019, including three appearances in the 2017 World Series. Despite being traded during the 2020 season, he earned a World Series ring with the club.
He joined the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2020 season. His 2022 campaign in Toronto proved to be a career highlight, where he set personal bests with a 3.01 ERA, 10 wins, and a low walk rate across 32 games, 24 of which were starts.
Following his strong 2022 performance, Stripling signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants in free agency. He later pitched for the Oakland Athletics, spending last season with the team and recording a 6.01 ERA over 85 1/3 innings.
Stripling was in spring training with the Royals in 2025 but requested and received his release after learning he would not make the Opening Day roster. He did not sign with another team before announcing his retirement. His career concludes with a 4.17 ERA across parts of nine major league seasons, according to Ross Stripling News.
