Dodgers Team News

Former Dodgers’ First Baseman James Loney Retires

James Loney has officially announced his retirement from professional baseball. The 35-year-old former Dodgers’ infielder last appeared at the big league level in 2016 for the Mets, where he hit 265/307/397 across 100 games for New York.

Loney was drafted by the Dodgers in the 1st round of the 2002 MLB Draft, making him the number 19 overall pick. Some notable names picked before him include Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Nick Swisher, and Cole Hamels.



Loney was picked up out of Lawrence E Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas. The big left-handed first baseman made his way through the minor league system relatively quickly, cracking the big league team after 4 years of minor league play.

Loney hit 303 with 32 home runs over his first 305 games and 3 seasons with the team, finishing up with a few Rookie of the Year votes in 2007. In terms of postseason performance, Loney was one of the most reliable hitters the Dodgers have ever had. He hit a combined .349 with 3 home runs across 63 at-bats for the Dodgers in five playoff series.

The Dodgers sent Loney to Boston as a part of the trade package that landed Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto in the Summer of 2012. He spent a total of 11 seasons at the big league level and accumulated 108 home runs as well as 1425 hits.

6 Comments

  1. Congrats to Loney on a long career. But who was drafted ahead of Loney in 2002 is of no importance. It’s the one’s that were drafted after that are more interesting. Joey Votto, Jon Lester, Curtis Granderson, Howie Kendrick and Hunter Pence. Not a horrible Dodger draft, but it would have been nice to have had Votto or Lester for most of the past decade.

    1. Dang can you imagine. If this current regime was in charge back then they probably would’ve picked one of those 2. They seem to know how to pick em

    2. Of all those guys only Votto would have been a better choice……….and I have to say this…………if you had drafted Votto, you now would not have Bellinger. I’ll take the Loney pick……….which later became Gonzalez………but I’m biased………..I liked Loney and Gonzales.

  2. Always appreciated Loney ( use to call him LoneStar) and his great D. A quiet, nice, guy. Wish James the best.

  3. Best of luck to you, James Loney!!!! You were a fine Dodger!!!! I wish you a wonderful retirement filled with the best of health!!!! You were a wizard with the glove, as well as being a credible hitter. You will always be a Dodger in my book!!! Go Blue!!

  4. Congratulations James,
    On an excellent career, I pray the future treats you well. You deserve it, you are truly a gentleman…

    “GO DODGER BLUE”

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