Former Pirates All-Star Josh Harrison announces retirement after 13 MLB seasons
Josh Harrison developed from a super utility player into a two-time All-Star and one of the charismatic characters for the Pittsburgh Pirates during their three-year stretch of clinching wild-card playoff berths.
Known for the dynamic play despite his diminutive stature and for the joy he brought to the game, the 5-foot-8, 190-pounder known by his nickname “J Hay” became a fan favorite at PNC Park.
“To all the fans, thank you for rocking with me everywhere I went. The joy, passion and pride you watched me play with was all pure. The energy you all brought day and night made it easy to go play the game I love. I hope you were able to witness and feel that every time I stepped on the field.”
Former Pirates two-time All-Star Josh Harrison announces his retirement. https://t.co/oOwmZTKc6Y
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) May 31, 2025
Harrison announced his retirement from the major leagues Saturday morning in a social media post, formally ending a 13-year career in which he batted .270/.316/.396, collected 1,080 hits, 218 doubles, 32 triples, 73 home runs and 388 RBIs while playing for the Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
“I wore each and every one of those jerseys with pride,” Harrison wrote. “Each place holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. I’ll be sure to take a piece of each city with me wherever I go.”
Harrison penned a long post on X that started with thanking his parents for their “sacrifices, long drives, encouragement, support, and love” and his older brothers Vince and Shaun for allowing him to be “the annoying little brother and tag along.”
A Cincinnati native, Harrison was drafted in the sixth round out of the University of Cincinnati by the Chicago Cubs in 2008. The Pirates acquired Harrison, along with Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio, in exchange for pitchers Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow in July 2009. Harrison made his major-league debut on May 31, 2011.
On May 18, 2012, Harrison broke up Justin Verlander’s no-hit bid with a ground ball single to center with one out in the ninth inning of a 6-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Five years later, he became the first player in MLB history to break up a no-hitter with a walk-off home run when he hit a solo shot off Rich Hill in the 10th inning for a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 23, 2017.
Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill watches a walk-off homer by Josh Harrison to break up his no-hitter during the10th inning tonight at PNC Park. pic.twitter.com/m0SMXU0g7Z
— Christopher Horner (@Hornerfoto1) August 24, 2017
August 23, 2017
Josh Harrison breaks up Rich Hill's no-hitter with a walk-off home run ???????? #PGHistory #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/djKxv4HAgG
— Pittsburgh Clothing Co. (@PGHClothingCo) August 23, 2022
A natural second baseman, Harrison played five positions for the Pirates in 2014, when he batted .298 through the first 72 games and was selected as a utility player for the National League in the All-Star Game.
Harrison hit .315 that season, finishing second for the batting title to Colorado Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau, who sat out the final two games of the season to protect his .319 batting average. He also had career-bests of 38 doubles and seven triples and finished ninth in NL MVP voting.
In 2015, Harrison signed a four-year contract extension with the Pirates through 2018. He had another All-Star season in 2017, when he batted .272/.339/.432 with 26 doubles and a career-high 16 home runs.
Harrison publicly requested a trade when Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole were dealt within days of one another that January but played 97 games and batted .250/.293/.363 in his final season in Pittsburgh. After leaving the Pirates, Harrison played 366 games over the next five seasons for five teams. He went to spring training with his hometown Cincinnati Reds in 2024 but opted out of his contract when he didn’t make the Opening Day roster.
“To every teammate I’ve had, thank you for the incredible ride. From the spring training grind, breaking 20-year losing streaks, show flights, team dinners, and everything in between, you guys made it worth it. It was an honor playing baseball with each and every one of you.”
Harrison also thanked his wife, Brittney, “for being my rock through every season, every city, every win, every loss, the highs and the lows” and daughters, Mia and Kinsli, noting that their “smiles and hugs after every game always put things in perspective.”
Harrison saved his final thanks to the game of baseball.
“Thank you for helping shape me, humble me, and give me a platform to grow, not just as a player, but a man,” Harrison wrote. “I’m blessed to have been a 2x all-star and to play for as long as I did, but I never sought to prove people wrong, only to prove myself right in my beliefs.”
Kevin Gorman is a TribLive reporter covering the Pirates. A Baldwin native and Penn State graduate, he joined the Trib in 1999 and has covered high school sports, Pitt football and basketball and was a sports columnist for 10 years. He can be reached at kgorman@triblive.com.
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