SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – APRIL 19: Sheldon Neuse #56 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out while swinging to end the top of the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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Professional baseball careers often end quietly, even for players who contributed to Major League Baseball’s most notable franchises and enjoyed historic championship moments.
But as those careers dwindle into more limited opportunities, players are forced to transition into new livelihoods, whether that be coaching, broadcasting or something else.
Now it appears that former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Sheldon Neuse has chosen a much different career path upon his own relatively quiet retirement.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers Third Baseman Announces Career End At 31
After spending parts of three seasons in the major leagues and helping deliver a long-awaited championship overseas, the 31-year-old has officially announced that his playing days are over.
“I have retired from baseball and started a roofing company in (Dallas-Fort Worth),” Neuse announced on X, formerly Twitter. “To those who supported my baseball career, thank you! I started this company with the idea of giving homeowners someone who is honest and trustworthy. If I can be of any service, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Although Neuse spent only one season with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the major league level in 2021, he made a career 44 starts at third base for the Dodgers as well as the Athletics.
“Neuse retires with a .212 batting average, seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 147 MLB games with the Dodgers (2021) and A’s (2019, 2022),” JP Hoornstra reported for The Big Lead. “A second-round draft pick in 2016 out of the University of Oklahoma, Neuse had to wait a while and travel far to achieve his moment of glory in baseball.”
While his MLB career never fully developed into an everyday role, Neuse continued finding opportunities after leaving the majors, extending his playing career internationally and eventually becoming a championship hero in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers Infielder Enjoyed Championship Moment Before Retirement
One of the defining highlights of Neuse’s career came in Japan, where he played for the Hanshin Tigers during a memorable championship run.
“Sheldon Neuse hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning on Sunday, November 5 to spark the Hanshin Tigers to a 7-1 win over the Orix Buffaloes in Game 7 and their first Japan Series championship since 1985,” Japan Forward reported in 2023. “The last time the Tigers won the Japan Series in 1985, their overzealous fans celebrated by having people who looked like players jump into the Dotonbori Canal.”
That performance secured Neuse a lasting place in Hanshin franchise history, even if his major league resume was relatively modest.
Now, instead of pursuing another contract or another season overseas, Neuse is beginning a completely different chapter. His announcement made clear that baseball is behind him, with his focus now turning toward building a roofing business — a career move few would have predicted when the former Dodgers third baseman was still chasing big league opportunities.
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