Former Padres Gold Glove infielder retires after 12 seasons

Nick Ahmed is calling it a career.

San Diego Padres helmet
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

After a dozen major league seasons, shortstop Nick Ahmed is hanging up the cleats. 

The infielder was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the 85th overall pick in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and was later traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the same trade that sent Justin Upton to the Braves in 2013. 

He would make his debut with the D-Backs a year later in June 2014, staying in Arizona until 2023, winning the 2018 and 2019 Gold Glove Awards for the National League at the shortstop position. 

After being released by the team in September 2023, Ahmed signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants, but was later designated for assignment by the Giants that July before finding himself back in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting a home run and batting in two runs while posting a .229 average. 

In September, he signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres, his third NL West team in a year, appearing in two games for the team as the season closed. 

In February of this year, the infielder signed with the Texas Rangers and appeared in five games for the team in late April before becoming a free agent in May, announcing his retirement from baseball Thursday afternoon. 

Ahmed finishes his career with a .233 batting average, 72 home runs, and 339 RBI. 

Category: Baseball