Mitch Garver, Albuquerque Native and Former Lobo, Calls It a Career After 10 MLB Seasons

Albuquerque native Mitch Garver, who starred at La Cueva High School and the University of New Mexico before embarking on a decade-long major league career, revealed his retirement from professional baseball on Thursday afternoon. The announcement brings an end to a 10-season run in the big leagues.

Over the course of his MLB tenure, Garver compiled a .229 batting average while launching 110 home runs and driving in 324 runs. His journey to the majors began as a walk-on at UNM, where he quickly developed into one of the program's most impactful players.

Garver earned Mountain West Co-Player of the Year honors in both 2012 and 2013, sharing the 2012 award with former Lobo D.J. Peterson. During his time in Albuquerque, the Lobos captured Mountain West regular-season titles in 2012 and 2013, as well as Mountain West Tournament championships in 2011 and 2012. Garver also helped UNM reach NCAA Tournament Regionals in 2012 and 2013.

His finest collegiate season came in 2013, when he posted a .390 batting average with six home runs and 68 RBIs. Garver also set a UNM record by starting 181 consecutive games. His performance that year led the Minnesota Twins to select him in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB Draft.

Garver made his major league debut on August 18, 2017, and remained with the Twins through the 2021 season. His breakout campaign came in 2019, when he slugged 31 home runs and drove in 67 runs, earning the American League Silver Slugger Award. He later played for the Texas Rangers from 2022 to 2023 and most recently the Seattle Mariners from 2024 to 2026.

During the 2023 season, Garver contributed to the Rangers' World Series championship run. In that postseason, he hit a grand slam in the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Key Analysis

Garver's retirement marks the close of a distinguished career that saw him rise from a walk-on at UNM to a Silver Slugger winner and World Series champion. His consistent production at the plate and his longevity in the majors underscore the impact he made at every level of the game.

Originally reported by kob.