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Craig Gentry has retired. The former MLB outfielder, who spent a number of years with the Texas Rangers, is hanging them up, according to his agent.
Gentry was a 10th round draft pick in 2006 out of the University of Arkansas, and made it to the majors as a role player on the strength of his speed and stellar outfield defense. Gentry was on the Rangers from 2009-13, and so will always have a special place in my memories, as every member of the 2010-11 Texas Rangers teams do.
Gentry put up a .280/.355/.366 slash line in 322 games for the Rangers, including a 3.5 bWAR in just 287 plate appearances in 2013. He was traded to Oakland, along with Josh Lindblom, in the ill-fated deal that brought Michael Choice and Christopher Bostick to Texas — a deal that worked out badly for both teams. Gentry also spent time with the Angels and the Orioles, and signed minor league deals with the Giants and the Rockies this spring.
Gentry ends his career with a 9.7 bWAR — pretty remarkable, all things considered. He’s 247th all time in bWAR among major league center fielders, and being one of the 250 best ever at anything in your lifetime is pretty special.