The Twins' Alex Kirilloff, a former top prospect, is retiring at age 26

Minnesota Twins first baseman Alex Kirilloff unexpectedly retired on Thursday morning at the age of 26.

Citing numerous injuries sustained throughout his career and the toll they took, the former top-10 prospect in baseball announced his retirement just days before his 27th birthday.

Kirilloff debuted in the 2020 postseason, but wrist, labrum and back injuries — which led to multiple surgeries — limited him to 249 major league games over the last four seasons. Kirilloff was expected to make $1.8 million in arbitration and he may not have been a candidate for the bid.

A standout minor league hitter, Kirilloff seemed destined to become a star after being selected 15th overall by the Twins in the 2016 MLB Draft. He batted .324/.380/.524 over parts of seven minor league seasons and was ranked No. 9 in Major League Baseball's top 100 prospect rankings prior to the 2019 season.

“After nine seasons of professional baseball, today I am announcing my decision to retire from the game,” Kirilloff said in a Twins press release. “Baseball has always been a cornerstone of my life. Starting with my childhood in western Pennsylvania, where I grew up as the son of a baseball coach. Spending countless hours in the batting cages and hitting hundreds of balls every day fueled my dream of playing in Major League Baseball. It has been an absolute joy to live this dream – and this journey has been full of unforgettable moments, challenges that led to growth, and lasting experiences that have enriched my life beyond measure.

“I have had numerous injuries throughout my career, which led me to constantly look for new ways to overcome the pain. These challenges took a toll on me mentally and physically; Over time, I noticed that my passion for the game changed. Baseball requires an “all-in” approach, something I have brought with me every season. However, I can no longer give it the full commitment it requires. I have always believed that playing this game requires 110% commitment and anything less would be a disservice to my teammates, coaches, fans or the game itself.

“I am deeply grateful for the support I have received throughout my career from my wife, family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff and fans. There are so many people I have to thank and I will thank them personally. Your belief in me made all the difference and I will be forever grateful. I want to thank the Minnesota Twins for giving me a chance. I will take the things I experienced with me for the rest of my life.

“As I move through the recovery process from my current lower back injury, I look forward to focusing more on my family and exploring new opportunities. Even though this next chapter won’t take place on the field, my story is far from over.”

Injuries suck.

Alex Kirilloff was one of the best #MNTwins Prospects in decades. Extremely talented batsman with great potential.

But his first three MLB seasons ended with wrist/shoulder surgeries and his fourth ended with a back injury.

He is retiring before his 27th birthday. Damned.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) October 31, 2024

(Photo: Adam Hunger/Getty Images)