Houston legend Ryan Presley announced his retirement after 13 seasons

Two-time All-Star and one of the most productive relievers Houston Astros history, Ryan Pressley, officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Saturday, ending a 13-season career that spanned from 2013 to 2025.

“After spending the last 19 years in professional baseball, I’ve made the decision to hang up my cleats and step away from the mound,” the 37-year-old he wrote in a statement. “It’s bittersweet, but what a ride it’s been.”

His full statement, below:

Pressley finishes his career with a 3.33 ERA in 691 1/3 innings pitched in 667 regular season games. He combined for 721 strikeouts, a 25.2% strikeout rate, a 7.2% walk rate and generated ground balls at a 48.5% clip. Since the start of the 2013 season, only six pitchers have made more appearances than Pressley, who has taken the bullpen 667 times. During that span, he made 117 saves in the regular season while playing for the Minnesota Twins, Houston and Chicago Cubs.

Originally drafted in the 11th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, Presley never made it to the majors with Boston. He was selected by Minnesota in the 2012 Rule 5 draft despite never pitching above Double-A, then made his major league debut in 2013. During his rookie season, he amassed 76 2/3 innings in 49 appearances with a 3.87 ERA.

Pressley pitched in parts for six seasons with the Twins before being traded to the Astros at the 2018 trade deadline. During that time, he served as Minnesota’s head coach. His move to Houston was a turning point. With the Astros, Presley posted a 2.81 ERA in 342 plate appearances, struck out 11.1 batters per nine innings and became one of the most reliable hitters in franchise history. His first All-Star nod came in 2019, before moving to a closer role the following season and earning another selection in 2021.

From 2020 to 2023, Pressley recorded 102 saves, the fourth most in MLB during that span, converting 102 of 118 opportunities with a 2.99 ERA. He ranks fourth on the Astros’ all-time saves list and is one of only four pitchers in franchise history to surpass 100 saves.

Presley’s work under the October lights only made his legend stick. He pitched 45 1/3 playoff innings with a 2.78 ERA and collected 14 postseason saves. He went 22 2/3 innings over three postseasons without allowing an earned run, shutting the door each time. In the 2022 playoffs, Pressley did not allow an earned run in 11 appearances, finishing the World Series with a 0.00 ERA. He recorded the final out in Game 6 to clinch Houston’s championship, and also earned saves in Games 5 and 6. He additionally pitched the last inning of the Astros’ combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the World Series and was part of another combined no-hitter earlier that season.

Still effective on the mound, Pressley had to step into the pitcher’s role when the Astros acquired Josh Hader before the 2024 season. He was later traded to Chicago after waiving his no-trade clause. In his final season last season, Pressley posted a 4.35 ERA with 28 strikeouts, 17 walks and five saves in 41 1/3 innings. The Cubs released him in August, and he didn’t sign with another club before calling it a career.