After years of his promising young career being disrupted by injuries, Alex Kirilloff has decided to retire from the game of baseball altogether, citing a mental and physical toll that led him to realize that his “passion for playing the game has shifted.”

The surprising decision, which Kirilloff announced Thursday morning on social media, comes after his latest setback, a back injury, kept him off the field from June 11 through the end of the season.

“Baseball demands an ‘all-in’ approach, something I’ve brought to every season,” he wrote. “However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I’ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.”

Kirilloff, 26, has been in the Twins’ organization since 2016, when he was drafted in the first round, 15th overall. He was among the team’s top prospects and after he debuted in the 2020 playoffs was expected to be an important piece of the Twins’ core for years to come.

But his major league career has been plagued by injuries, starting with a wrist injury suffered in 2021. Kirilloff had surgery twice on his right wrist, after the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Following the 2023 surgery, the first baseman/outfielder required a shoulder surgery, and his most recent season ended prematurely because of his back.

“As I navigate the recovery process for my current lower back injury, I’m excited to focus more on my family and explore new opportunities,” he wrote. “While this next chapter won’t take place on the field, my story is far from over.”