Longtime Astros catcher Martin Maldonado retires

Martín Maldonado, whose 15-year career included six seasons and one World Series ring with the Astros, has retired, he announced Saturday on Instagram.

Maldonado shared a video documenting his journey from his childhood home in Puerto Rico to his first hit with the Brewers, also highlighting his first grand slam and Gold Glove award in 2017 — while at two different points showing all seven of his jerseys from the different teams next to each other.

“Baseball, I was just four years old when I fell in love with you,” Maldonado wrote in his caption accompanying the video. “From the moment I first put on that catcher’s gear, I knew this game would be part of me forever. Every inning, every pitch, every moment behind the plate has been a blessing. For 34 years, I’ve had the honor of wearing that gear — and for the last 15, doing it at the highest level. Today, it’s time to hang them up and officially call it a career.”

Maldonado, originally a 27th-round pick by the Angels in 2004, spent the first six years of his career with the Brewers before joining the Angels, playing the final portion of the 2018 season with the Astros.

Then, in 2019, he appeared in games for the Royals and Cubs before returning to Houston, where he’d proceed to stay through the end of the 2023 season.

He caught three no-hitters in Houston and won the World Series in 2022, and he retired as a career .203 hitter with a .620 OPS and 119 homers.

Maldonado spent his final season in San Diego this year, logging 64 games with the Padres before getting designated for assignment at the end of August and then inking a minor-league deal a week later.

“To my wife, Janelise, and to my amazing kids — Anaiah, Aiden, and Gianna — what a journey we’ve lived together,” Maldonado continued in his Instagram caption. “Thank you for your love, your patience, and your unwavering support through all the highs and lows. Thank you for the sacrifices, year after year, that allowed me to chase a dream that started when I was just a kid — and became our dream as a family. 

“We’ve shared so many memories — traveling from city to city, packing bags, celebrating wins, learning from losses, laughing, crying, and growing together. You’ve been the heart of my home and the strength that carried me through it all. I love you with all my heart.”

Maldonado also thanked his parents, his brother and his sister for giving him “the foundation to live this dream.”

At the end of his video, Maldonado hinted at a plan to play for Puerto Rico in next year’s World Baseball Classic — something he also did in 2013 and 2023.