Former SF Giants 50th-round pick announces retirement after long career overseas

After an incredibly long career, a former SF Giants minor leaguer will be retiring at the end of the 2022 season. After 10 seasons in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), Mike Loree will hang up his spikes in a professional career that began way back in 2007.

Former SF Giants 50th-round pick announces retirement after long career overseas

The Giants originally drafted the 37-year-old pitcher in the 50th-round of the 2007 draft out of Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The 2007 draft was a turning point for a lot of reasons for the Giants organization. Most notably, they selected Madison Bumgarner with the 10th overall pick out of South Caldwell High School in Hudson, North Carolina.

However, they also selected pitcher Tim Alderson and infield Charlie Culberson with compensatory first-round picks as well. Alderson was shipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 in exchange for second baseman Freddy Sanchez, whereas Culberson was traded to the Colorado Rockies for versatile infielder Marco Scutaro in 2012.

Loree was part of the 2007 draft class as well. Incredibly, his longevity has outlasted nearly every prospect that the Giants selected that year. Bumgarner and Culberson are the only active major leaguers to remain. Interestingly, San Francisco also selected pitcher Ryan Verdugo in the 43rd round, who was playing professionally in the Mexican League until last season.

Loree's time with the Giants did not last long. The right-handed hurler's most extensive work came in 2009 when he registered a 4.67 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, and a 2.69 SO/W ratio in 21 appearances with the Augusts Green Jackets before being released by the Giants.

The Villanova University product pitched briefly in the Pirates organization in 2011, but he latched on with the Lamigo Monkeys of the CPBL in 2012. He appeared in parts of 10 seasons with the Lamigo Monkeys (2012 - 2013), EDA Rhinos (2015 - 2016) and the Fubon Guardians (2017 - 2022).

In that time, he has posted a 3.32 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, and a 4.45 SO/W ratio in 237 appearances including 232 starts. He has continued to remain effective with the Guardians in 2022 as he has tallied a 2.35 ERA in 46 innings.

According to the Taipei Times, Loree is the longest-serving non-native pitcher in the CPBL. Loree elaborated on his decision to step away:

“I want to spend more time with my kids. I want to be the father that I know that I can be, in being present at home with my kids. Going to bed at night with them, waking up in the morning with them. I want to be there for my wife and I want to be a present father at home."

It takes a lot of determination for a former 50th-round pick to hang around as long as Loree has. Not only that, but he has proven to be an effective and reliable arm throughout his CPBL career. Around the Foghorn wishes Loree the best of luck in his future endeavors!