Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays makes his way back to the dugout after he flied out to center field during the fifth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 25, 2016 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Rays have said goodbye to Kevin Kiermaier. The former Gold Glove center fielder is now a free agent so he'll be wearing a different team's uniform the next time we see him at Tropicana Field. But clearly for Kevin, his time spent here meant a lot to him. He posted this goodbye message to social media to Rays fans.
Thank you Rays fans. Thank you for absolutely everything. I was drafted back in 2010 in the 31st round as the 941st pick overall. Did not know what to expect and I knew all I had to do is throw all my eggs in one basket and be more committed to my life with baseball more than anything ever. And I did just that and here I am today feeling like the luckiest man ever.
I’m so thankful, appreciative, grateful for everything thrown my way. For the people of this community, you mean the world to me. All the kids who changed their number to 39 and how I saw that in the stands for years and years, you will never know how much that means to me. My time here is done, but I will be a part of this community forever. I love everyone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all.
Kevin Kiermaier's Years with the Rays
