KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Royals right-hander Kelvin Herrera announced Friday that he's retiring from baseball.
"This is the first time in 14 years that I am not in Arizona getting ready for the upcoming season," Herrera, 31, said on Twitter. "It's a bittersweet moment for me, but after 10 MLB season, 2 World Series, 2 All-Star Games and 1 World Baseball Classic I am happy to call it a career and focus on my family and the next chapter of my life."
Thank you, Baseball ✍🏼 pic.twitter.com/CS55vIQzST
— Kelvin Herrera (@KelvinHerrera40) February 26, 2021
Herrera, a native of the Dominican Republic, was part of a dominant bullpen, which helped power the Royals to the World Series in 2014 and 2015. He was the first "H" in the vaunted back end of the bullpen, known as "HDH," along with Wade Davis and Greg Holland.
The trio's dominance in the from the seventh inning on in games helped Kansas City shorten games when they led and gave the team a chance to come back in games they trailed.
Herrera was a critical piece in the Royals' runs to win the American League pennant in 2014 and breakthrough in 2015 for the second World Series title in franchise history.
Herrera, who made his major league debut in 2011 and played eight season with the Royals, was particularly dominant in 2014, allowing only 11 earned runs in 70 innings and posting a 1.41 ERA with a 280 ERA+.
He was an All-Star with Kansas City in 2015 and 2016 before being traded to the Washington Nationals in June 2018. Herrera pitched for the Chicago White Sox the last two seasons.
With the Royals, Herrea went 23-27 overall with a 2.75 ERA and 438 strikeouts in 441 1/3 innings across 442 appearances, which are the third most games played for a pitcher in team history.
He became the Royals' closer in 2017, recording a career-high 26 saves. His 57 career saves with the Royals ranks sixth in franchise history.
