Left-handed reliever Jake Diekman is retiring after a 13-year MLB career in which he made 705 appearances for nine teams.
“The time has come for me to retire as a Major League Baseball player,” Diekman said Friday in an X post. “Thank you, God, for this life and being able to live out my wildest dream.”
The 38-year-old Diekman hadn’t pitched in the majors this year and went 2-3 with a 5.63 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the New York Mets last season. The Atlanta Braves released him in spring training.
He posted a 27-34 record, 19 saves and a 3.91 ERA during a career that included stops with the Philadelphia Phillies (2012-15), Texas Rangers (2015-18), Arizona Diamondbacks (2018), Kansas City Royals (2019), Oakland Athletics (2019-21), Boston Red Sox (2022), Chicago White Sox (2022-23), Tampa Bay Rays (2023) and Mets (2024).
During his time with the Phillies, Diekman teamed with Cole Hamels, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon on a no-hitter in a 7-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 1, 2014. Diekman pitched the seventh inning of that game.
Diekman went 1-5 with one save and a 4.15 ERA in 14 career postseason appearances.
In his retirement announcement, Diekman thanked his former teammates, coaches, trainers and staffers. He also thanked each of the organizations for which he played. He also credited the schools he played for before beginning his pro career.
“From being in kindergarten and writing down that I wanted to be a baseball player when I grow up, to not even having a high school baseball team and just playing Legion in the summer, ‘making it’ to the big leagues seemed like such a pipe dream,” Diekman said. “From American Legion to Doane College to Cloud County Community College, I could not have asked for better spots to be. Those were some of the best times on the field. Those early years in high school and college is where you learn what it actually takes to be your best, grind out a game and learn to fail.”
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FILE - New York Mets' Jake Diekman pitches during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, July 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 131-94 win Friday night.
Stephen Curry sat out because of a left ankle sprain and backcourt mate Jimmy Butler became ill earlier in the day. Draymond Green rested, while Jonathan Kuminga missed the game with back soreness.
That left Steve Kerr's starting lineup as Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, Gui Santos and Quinten Post.
Kerr was optimistic Curry would play Saturday against the Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10 for 20 with three 3-pointers and converted all seven of his free throws for his seventh game in the last nine with 30 or more points — and now three straight. He had 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting with five 3-pointers in the last matchup against the Warriors.
Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and a season-best 15 rebounds — two off his career high — as Oklahoma City (30-5) won a fourth straight following its first two-game skid of the season.
Richard had 13 points and five rebounds, Al Horford and Moody also scored 13 while Pat Spencer dished out 11 assists against the defending champion Thunder, who had lost their previous two road games but also won 124-112 at Golden State exactly a month earlier on Dec. 2.
Richard's 3-pointer with 7:19 left in the second quarter got Golden State within 38-36 before Oklahoma City answered with a 19-0 run to go ahead 64-45 at halftime.
The Warriors had won two straight, five of six and three in a row at home, where they are in a stretch with 10 of 11 at Chase Center.
Thunder: Visit Phoenix on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Utah on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
