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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Josh Lindblom announces retirement

By David Hill

Apr 1, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Lindblom (29) delivers a pitch in the top of the ninth against the Minnesota Twins at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Lindblom (29) delivers a pitch in the top of the ninth against the Minnesota Twins at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports /
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Josh Lindblom had a professional baseball career that took him around the world. That journey came to an end on Thursday.

The former Oakland A’s pitcher announced on his Twitter account that he is retiring as a player. Considering that he noted that he is done playing but is “not finished,” it seems likely that Lindblom will remain in the game in some capacity.

Josh Lindblom ends his playing days

There was a time when Lindblom was a fairly well regarded prospect. A second round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, Lindblom made his major league debut in 2011 and appeared set to be a key part of the Dodgers bullpen. He was then traded to the Phillies at the deadline in 2012 for Shane Victorino and was expected to be a key part of the Phillies’ future relief corps.

Instead, this began Lindblom’s days as a baseball nomad. Lindblom was sent to the Rangers during the 2012-13 offseason for Michael Young. Nearly a year to the day later, he was traded to the A’s. After a year in the A’s organization, he was placed on waivers and was claimed by the Pirates. He remained with the Pirates for 11 days before being released and signing with the Lotte Giants in the Korean Baseball Organization. After two years with the Giants, he returned stateside in 2017, signing a minor league deal with the Pirates so that his daughter could get treatment for her heart condition. After being released in July, he returned to the KBO, remaining there until he signed a three year deal with the Brewers ahead of the 2020 season.

While his major league career did not pan out as he would have hoped, Lindblom was a star in the KBO. The 2019 MVP, he posted a 63-34 record with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.190 WHiP over his 823.1 innings, striking out 750 batters with 214 walks. On the major league side, he posted a 4.78 ERA and a 1.397 WHiP over his 209 innings, striking out 200 batters with 87 walks.

Lindblom’s wealth of experience, both throughout his odyssey in affiliated ball and in the KBO, will be extremely valuable if he remains in the game. He could be the type of coach that can help players navigate the highs and lows of professional ball due to his ability to commiserate with those experiences as he went through them himself.

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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Josh Lindblom has decided to end his playing days. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.