Charlie Blackmon announces plans to retire from MLB after 2024 regular season

Charlie Blackmon has announced that he will be retiring from the MLB after the six games remaining for the Colorado Rockies this season. The 38-year-old outfielder released a heart-felt statement to the Rockies organization and all of the fans who cheered him on over his 14-year career.

Although it is not overly surprising to see the veteran retire at this point of his career given his age, Charlie Blackmon's announcement seemingly came out of nowhere. The veteran appears to be at peace with the decision, although he mentioned the uncertainty about his future endeavors beyond his playing days.

"Today I am a ballplayer looking over the fence of uncertainty. For what is behind me, I am grateful," Blackmon said in his statement.

Even though retirement is never easy for any player, for Blackmon he will be able to look back on a successful career. An elite hitter in his prime, Blackmon was great at the plate throughout his career. He won the National League batting title in 2017 and also finished 5th in MVP voting.

It was yet another difficult season for the Rockies as the club has put together a disappointing 60-96 record so far. Even though Blackmon's batting average (currently at .249) fell to a career-low, he was still a productive hitter for the team, posting 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, and a .718 OPS.

Now, with Charlie Blackmon not on the roster for next season, the Rockies will usher in a new era. It's been a rough few seasons for the club, but with budding young stars such as Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle, and Nolan Jones, fans will hope that the team can turn things around sooner rather than later.

Charlie Blackmon set to retire as one of top hitters in Colorado Rockies history

Despite the ups and downs of the Colorado Rockies throughout his career, Blackmon remained loyal to the organization that gave him his first opportunity in the majors. The four-time All-Star finds himself at or near the top of a number of the franchise's all-time batting records, including 2nd in hits (1,797), 1st in triples (67), and 4th in RBIs (797).

Although the veteran outfielder was unable to help lead the Colorado Rockies to a World Series title, Charlie Blackmon will go down in history as one of the greatest and most beloved players in franchise history.

While Blackmon admits that his future beyond playing baseball remains unclear, it seems likely that his number 19 jersey will be retired alongside the likes of Larry Walker and Todd Helton.