March 13, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

John Axford officially announced his retirement in a social media post on Tuesday night.

The 40-year-old right-hander, who pitched parts of 11 major league seasons, was happy that he threw his final professional pitch for Canada in last year’s World Baseball Classic.

“One year ago today, I walked off the mound for the last time!” wrote Axford in his post last night. “It took everything in my power not to cry immediately while leaving the field. My wave to the crowd was to my family. All 15 of them. I wanted them all there to experience it with me. When I looked up into the crowd, and saw the excitement of my sons, parents, sisters and their husbands, my nieces and nephews . . . it was everything I could have ever wanted to end my career!”

Axford threw a scoreless inning in that contest — an 18-8 Canada win over Great Britain in the first game of the WBC. It brought his career full circle; the Port Dover, Ont., native, had honed his skills with the Junior National Team in 2001. That same year, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the MLB draft but he did not sign. He would pitch at Canisius College and the University of Notre Dame before being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 42nd round four years later.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander eventually landed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2006. He’d spend one campaign in the Bombers’ organization before inking a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Axford pitched in parts of two seasons in the Brewers’ organization before being called up in September 2009.

Over the next three seasons, he established himself as the Brewers’ closer, earning 24, 46 and 35 saves respectively. His 46 saves in 2011 led the American League.

In all, in parts of 11 major league seasons, Axford posted a 3.90 ERA and amassed 144 saves in 544 appearances. Axford finishes his career among the all-time Canadian major league pitching leaders in several categories, including second in saves and games finished (286) and sixth in appearances.

Axford’s career also included stops with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, Oakland A’s, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.

In his retirement message, Axford thanked all of the organizations he played for, including the Blue Jays.

“And as a Canadian kid, growing up a fan of the Blue Jays, it will always be surreal to me that I got suit up in that uniform and pitch for my hometown team,” wrote Axford. “My love of Major League Baseball started in Toronto . . . and will continue there for the rest of my life!”

Axford pitched for Canada’s national team on multiple occasions, including at the 2013 World Baseball Classic and at the Americas Olympic Qualifier in the spring of 2021.

You can read his full retirement message here: