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Burrell to officially retire as a Phillie

PAT BURRELL will officially retire as a Phillie during the Boston Red Sox series at Citizens Bank Park in May, the team announced.

Pat Burrell will officially retire in May as a member of the Phillies. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Pat Burrell will officially retire in May as a member of the Phillies. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)Read more

PAT BURRELL will officially retire as a Phillie during the Boston Red Sox series at Citizens Bank Park in May, the team announced.

Burrell, 35, will sign a 1-day minor league contract with the Phillies. He will be honored before the Saturday, May 19 game by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Burrell retired in the offseason because of a chronic foot injury that limited him to 92 games with a .230 average last season with San Francisco.

" 'Hesitant' isn't the right word - I just don't like to make a big deal about things," Burrell told MLB.com about returning to Philly. "But the more I thought about it, it's the right thing to do. I was with that organization for so long. I have such good memories. You realize it's an honor and I'm very appreciative of the fact they wanted to do this for me. I'm looking forward to it. I really am."

Burrell was with the Phillies for nine seasons and is fourth in team history in home runs (251), eighth in RBI (827) and ninth in extra-base hits (518). He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 draft by the Phillies out of the University of Miami. His last hit as a Phillie was a double that led to the winning run in the decisive Game 5 of the 2008 World Series.

He spent the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco, winning another World Series with the Giants in 2010.

He is currently working as an assistant to Giants general manager Brian Sabean and as a special assignment scout. He is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday in San Francisco before the Phillies play the Giants.

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