WASHINGTON, June 11 (UPI) -- Veteran Washington Nationals outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds has decided to retire.
He made the decision Friday after refusing an assignment to Triple-A New Orleans. After making the team in spring training, he still started the season at New Orleans. He was sidelined by a a right hamstring pull on May 22 against Toronto and batted only .219 in 32 at-bats.
General Manager Jim Bowden said the National League east-leading Nationals have younger and better players ahead of the 34-year-old Hammonds, who, according to the team's Web site, now plans to return to Stanford University and get his degree in Spanish.
In his career, Hammonds batted .272 with 110 home runs and 423 RBI in 957 major league games over 13 seasons with Baltimore, Cincinnati, Colorado, Milwaukee, San Francisco and the Nationals.
"He's walking away at a time where he could still play, but it's as a 25th player," Bowden said.
