MLB infielder Drew Ellis retires at 30 after career with Phillies, Mariners and Diamondbacks
Ellis, who last appeared in the majors in 2023, announced his immediate retirement via social media on 26 May, ending a career that spanned three seasons and four organisations.
Drew Ellis has announced his immediate retirement from professional baseball, bringing an end to a Major League Baseball career that saw him play for the Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. The 30-year-old infielder made the announcement on 26 May via an Instagram post, concluding a journey that began with his selection in the 2017 MLB Draft.
Ellis last appeared in the majors with the Phillies in 2023. Over three seasons between 2021 and 2023, he played in 47 games, recording a .157 batting average, three home runs and 10 runs batted in. His path to the majors was marked by movement within the league, having been selected 44th overall by the Diamondbacks out of the University of Louisville.
After spending five years in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system, Ellis made his MLB debut in July 2021. He played 28 games for Arizona before being designated for assignment less than a year later. He was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Mariners, where he played only one major league game, going 1 for 3, while spending the majority of his time at Triple-A.
The 2023 season saw Ellis in the Phillies’ system, mostly at Triple-A level, before he moved to the Angels’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates in 2024. He concluded his playing career with the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, in 2025, where he posted a .222 batting average in 52 games.
In his retirement statement, Ellis reflected on his time in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, where he represented his region at the 2008 Little League World Series. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by the sport, noting that the journey allowed him to play at the highest level against the best players in the world.
