From pitcher to hitter, David Peralta's resilient career culminates, including a vital role and fitting final chapter with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Veteran outfielder David Peralta has formally announced his retirement from professional baseball, closing the book on a career defined by perseverance, reinvention, and consistent production — including a notable late-career chapter with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Peralta joined the Dodgers ahead of the 2023 season on a one-year deal, arriving as a left-handed bat with postseason experience and a reputation as a reliable clubhouse presence.
While no longer the everyday force he once was with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Peralta filled an important role for a Dodgers team with championship aspirations. During the 2023 campaign, Peralta was used primarily in platoon situations and late-game matchups, where his contact ability and situational hitting proved valuable.
He appeared in 133 games for Los Angeles, though his counting stats were modest compared to his peak seasons, the Dodgers valued his veteran savvy approach in the regular season.
His calm demeanor and understanding of playoff baseball added an intangible element to the Dodgers’ clubhouse, even as his role shifted away from everyday playing time.
Following his season in Los Angeles, Peralta continued his career in the National League West, briefly spending time with the San Diego Padres before stepping away from Major League Baseball.
Originally signed as a pitcher out of Venezuela, Peralta famously reinvented himself as a hitter in independent ball before emerging as a standout with the Diamondbacks.
Peralta retires with a lifetime .278 batting average, 125 home runs, and over 1,100 hits, along with Silver Slugger and Gold Glove honors earlier in his career.
While his legacy is most closely tied to the Diamondbacks, his season in Los Angeles stands as a fitting final chapter — one spent contributing to a contender.
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