His time as one of the Angels' most valuable players didn't last long.
But for two seasons, Mike Mayers was an absolute stud out of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bullpen.
Those will go down as the two best seasons of his MLB career. Mayers announced his retirement on Wednesday after eight MLB seasons between the Cardinals, Angels and Royals.
"After 12 incredible years in professional baseball, including parts of eight seasons in the big leagues with the Cardinals, Angels, and Royals, I’m officially hanging up the cleats," Mayers wrote in a post to his LinkedIn account.
"Baseball has given me more than I could’ve ever imagined: From little league, to Ole Miss and into Pro ball, I have created lifelong friendships, once-in-a-lifetime memories, and the chance to compete at the highest level," Mayers added. "I’m incredibly grateful to every teammate, coach, and staff member who helped shape my journey. Thank you to the fans who showed up, cheered loud, and made this game so special."
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Mayers was a third-round draft choice by the Cardinals out of Ole Miss in 2013. He never was very effective for St. Louis in four seasons at the MLB level.
But in 2020, Mayers' first year with the Angels, he had a 2.10 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 30 innings.
He followed that up with 72 appearances in 2021 that included a 3.84 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 75 innings.
Mayers regressed in 2022 to a 5.68 ERA.
He struggled with the Royals in 2023, then spent 2024 in Triple-A as part of the Blue Jays organization.
Rather than try to continue his baseball career at age 33, Mayers decided it was a good time to step away.
He won't be overly remembered, but the Angels knew for a couple years that they could really count on Mike Mayers.
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