Pence announces retirement
Giants cut Samardzija, 2 days left for this season
If everything unfolded according to plan, Hunter Pence would be playing the outfield, giving fiery pregame speeches and willing the Giants toward a surprise playoff berth during the 2020 season.
With two days left in the regular season and more than a month after he last wore the Giants uniform, Pence announced he’s retiring from baseball.
“My goal was to go as hard as I could for as long as I could,” Pence wrote in an Instagram post. “I love to play baseball and I cherished every day, every teammate, every victory and every defeat, along with the lessons that came with them. Giving it everything I had was my ultimate goal. Nothing can really prepare you for this part of your career when you have to say: I am retiring from baseball. I’ve given everything I possibly can to the game and it has given back to me tenfold.”
Also on Saturday, the Giants designated starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija for assignment.
The 37-year-old Pence played parts of 14 seasons in the major leagues including eight with the San Francisco Giants. He finishes his career with a lifetime .279 batting average, 244 home runs, four All- Star nods and two World Series rings.
The most memorable days of Pence’s career came with the Giants,
where he earned the nickname “The Reverend” for his remarkable speeches that inspired teammates en route to two World Series titles. Pence joined the club at the 2012 trade deadline in a deal that sent three players to the Philadelphia Phillies and remained with the team through the end of the 2018 season.
After playing in all 162 games during the 2014 champion sh ip se a son, Pence battled injuries and struggled at the plate for the remainder of his tenure with the Giants, which led many to believe he would retire when his contract expired at the end of the 2018 season.
Pence instead went to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, retooled his swing and signed a minor league deal with his hometown Texas Rangers. His stunning comeback story led him to a 2019 AllStar appearance and convinced the Giants to take another chance on him in free agency over the offseason.
T he Giants thought Pence could aid their lineup in a platoon role against left-handed pitchers, but he went 5-for-52 before the club cut him in August. Following the team’s decision, Pence publicly expressed his gratitude for the fan support he received during his time in San Francisco and seemed willing to consider the idea of extending his career next year.
On Saturday, Pence announced he won’t continue playing, but he’ll always have a spot in the hearts of Giants fans who will eventually see him on the team’s Wall of Fame outside Oracle Park.
“To the fans, thank you for your unwavering passion and support no matter where I was,” Pence wrote on Instagram. “The love that you have shown me every step of the way has left a lasting mark on me. You picked me up during the lows, and boy did we celebrate those highs. Your love will always hold a special place in my heart. I look forward to whatever the future may hold for me.”
Samardzija cut
Before taking the mound at Oracle Park for the final regular season start with the San Francisco Giants, Samardzija sat on the dugout bench and thought about the memories he made during a five-year tenure with the club.
“It’s like you’re always going to be there, always going to have that opportunity,” Samardzija said. “But we all know time goes by real fast. Looking at the stadium, it’s tough. I’ve had a lot of fun here. I very much enjoyed my time here. I was taking it all in.”
Samardzija didn’t have much time to reflect after a 6-5 walk- off loss on Friday. The Giants designated him for assignment and placed him on unconditional release waivers with two days left in the regular season.
When the veteran righthander returned from a seven-week stint on the injured list to face San Diego, he knew his Friday start against the San Diego Padres would be his last with a team that still has hopes of playing into October.
Samardzija understood the Giants only brought him back to the roster for Friday’s doubleheader because their pitching depth was depleted, but he spent several weeks keeping his arm in shape at the team’s Sacramento alternate site because he hoped to contribute to a team in the playoff race.
“It’s not easy watching these guys grind and go through all the tough parts of the season and pick up innings here and there and you’re not helping,” Samardzija said. “It was just great to see these guys fight all year.”
The outing was better than what Samardzija showed early in the season, but his three-inning stint left the Giants trailing 3-1 after Fernando Tatis, Jr. hit a 458foot home run into the left center field bleachers.
Samardzija said he absolutely plans to pitch in 2021, but it’s hard to know what the free agent market will hold for a pitcher who signed a five-year, $90 million deal the last time he had the choice to play anywhere. Shoulder injuries hampered him in 2018 and 2020.