Adam Dunn announces retirement

Wednesday morning on Twitter, Oakland Athletics designated hitter Adam Dunn appeared to confirm what had been described as his probable retirement from baseball:

Well boys and girls it was a hellava time! I truly thank all you fans! Y'all made it worth playing. Thank You!!#phase2begins

— adam dunn (@adamdunn_44) October 1, 2014

Still in uniform an hour after the end of last night's game, he told the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, "This is probably it."

The 34-year-old born in Houston, Texas was on a postseason roster for the first time in his 14-season career spanning 2,001 regular season games. He started his career as a second round selection of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1998 draft, debuting in 2001. After a trade sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2008, the Big Donkey enjoyed stints with the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox before joining the Athletics at the postseason roster deadline this year.

In Tuesday night's American League Wild Card Game post-game press conference, manager Bob Melvin said he intended to use Adam Dunn had the A's not retaken the lead in the 12th inning. He elected to use Alberto Callaspo for Nate Freiman instead. Had Callaspo not driven in Josh Reddick, Dunn would have batted for Nick Punto, with Andy Parrino the last infielder off the bench available. Melvin believed that the Royals would have intentionally walked Adam Dunn if he had been brought in to bat for Freiman, with first base open.

On not appearing in the game, Dunn told Slusser, "Let's not make it a bigger deal than it is. It's not. Bob Melvin is one of the best managers I've ever played for. I mean it, he's as good as there is out there. He's awesome. Awesome."

One statistical quirk that I personally had hoped to see the Three True Outcomes hitter achieve was to see an "Adam Dunn Hat Trick". He did not achieve another game with a strikeout, a walk, and a home run during his time with Oakland, however. According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, that ends his career with 125, tied for third with Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth, and trailing Mark McGwire on 133 and Jim Thome on 154.

Dunn finishes his career with 462 home runs, including two for the Athletics.