Lucas Luetge’s retirement message wasn’t one many expected to see during spring training in 2025. In fact, it was the kind of message that probably should’ve come years earlier—before his unexpected Yankees revival, before he took the mound in pinstripes, and before he carved out a niche as a reliable bullpen arm known for silencing hitters like Andrew Benintendi or closing out lopsided wins.
But Luetge wasn’t ready to close the book until now.
Last Thursday, the veteran left-hander took to Instagram to announce his retirement from professional baseball, expressing peace with his decision and gratitude for the late-career resurgence that saw him return to the majors after years of uncertainty.
Luetge pitched for the Yankees in 2021 and 2022. When he stepped on the mound in the Bronx on April 3, 2021, it marked the end of a staggering 2,170-day gap between big league appearances. His previous major league stint had been with the Seattle Mariners from 2012 to 2015. In between, there was a long, winding road filled with minor league assignments and missed chances.
After a solid rookie campaign with Seattle in 2012, Luetge’s performance dipped, and he fell out of the Mariners’ long-term plans. He spent most of the following years bouncing between Triple-A teams and MLB organizations. Brief stints with the Angels, Reds, Orioles, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and A’s failed to stick. He even lost all of 2018 to Tommy John surgery. And through it all, opportunities remained elusive—until the Yankees took a chance on him in 2021.
Arriving at spring training that year as an afterthought, Luetge earned his spot and became a valuable bullpen arm for the Yankees, proving himself after years in the shadows.
Now, with his retirement official, Luetge leaves behind a storybook ending that seemed impossible not long ago—a testament to perseverance and love for the game.
