John McDonald retires at age 40

John McDonald, the diminutive shortstop whose defensive prowess allowed him to hang around the major leagues for 16 years, announced his retirement from baseball on Wednesday.

McDonald, a 12th-round pick in the 1996 draft, endeared himself to both fans and teammates with his hustle and remarkable defensive skills following his MLB debut in 1999. The 5-foot-9 infielder was seldom feared with a bat in his hands – he compiled a .233/.273/.323 (59 OPS+) in his career – but superb work at shortstop allowed him to play for eight different teams throughout his 16 seasons.

McDonald spent the bulk of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, eventually becoming a fan favorite over his 549 games with the club. No team ever relied as heavily on McDonald, who eclipsed 100 games played in two seasons with the Blue Jays despite never appearing in more than 95 with any other team.

Though the majority of the highlights from McDonald's career revolve around his defensive work, the light-hitting shortstop famously homered on Father's Day while with the Blue Jays in 2010, just days after his own father, Jack, passed away.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)