By any reasonable measure, Atlanta Braves pitcher Jesse Chavez should not have lasted as long as he did in the major leagues. Guys who bounce around the league like he has eventually run out of suitors after just a few years and are not heard from again. Instead, Chavez just kept popping up every year for 17 seasons, and very often, it involved him wearing a Braves jersey.
Before the start of the 2024 season, Chavez indicated that he would likely retire at season's end and his release by the White Sox in March certainly increased the likelihood that he would struggle to find employment if he wanted it. While his strong first half with Atlanta gave some hope he had more left in the tank, his second half swoon probably reinforced the idea that his time as a big league pitcher has finally run out.
If that is truly the case, it will be a retirement well earned.
While hilarious and awesome, your season counting needs some work
— Stephen Clark (@sclark12385) July 10, 2024
Jesse Chavez's time with the Braves and in MLB is nothing short of remarkable
On the surface, Chavez's career numbers don't jump off the page. He was never a closing-caliber reliever, and his career 4.24 ERA and meh strikeout rate don't exactly jump off the page. However, he was a different pitcher with the Braves, including four of his best campaigns and, more importantly, he was able to be "good enough" for an exceptionally long time.
Just look at what he accomplished since he debuted with the Pirates back in 2008.
- 653 appearances (18th in MLB over that span amongst relievers)
- 1134 IP
- 1036 strikeouts
- Played for 9 different teams including four stints with the Braves
Was Chavez ever a top 5 reliever in baseball? No, he wasn't except in the hearts of Braves fans. Did he ever make an All-Star team? Sadly no, although he had a real case for it in a few years, including the first half of 2024, and lord knows that Chavez's Braves teammates lobbied hard for it to happen. However, he did manage to win a World Series ring with the Braves and also put together a career that the vast majority of big league players would kill to have, and he did it with good old fashioned deception and knowing what he was good at.
Sometimes, that is more than enough. One hopes that Chavez will find a way to stay involved with the Braves as a coach or an advisor going forward. If he decides that he has given more than enough of his life to baseball and wants to spend time with loved ones, we hope he knows that he more than deserves it. Best of luck, King Jesse, and thank you for everything.