Cubs’ 6-year veteran suddenly retires at 28
· Yahoo Sports
Catcher Casey Opitz, who spent his six-year career in professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs organization, suddenly retired.
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Opitz, 28, last played in a doubleheader for the Cubs’ Triple-A team on July 25, going 0-for-2 with a walk.
Opitz appeared in 14 games with the Iowa Cubs this season, spending most of the season on the development list.
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When active, Opitz went 9-for-44 (.205) with a home run. He finishes his career with a .202 batting average, .309 on-base percentage and .313 slugging percentage in 273 career minor league games — 21 at the Triple-A level.
The Cubs originally drafted Opitz in the 27th round of the 2017 draft out of high school. He opted not to sign, and instead honored a commitment to the University of Arkansas. Four years later, the Cubs drafted Opitz again, this time in the eighth round.
Opitz got into two Triple-A games during his first year in the Cubs’ system, but didn’t make it back until 2025.
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Opitz spent the 2022 season at advanced Class-A South Bend. He finished the season with a .202/.329/.333 slash line, including the first three home runs of his professional career.
In 2023, Opitz split the season between South Bend and Double-A Tennessee, playing 68 games and slashing .209/.320/.326.
Opitz saw his first major league spring training action in 2024 with the Cubs. In three Cactus League games as a call-up from minor league camp, Opitz went 1 for 2 with a single.
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Opitz would get 14 more plate appearances with the Cubs in spring training over the 2025 and 2026 Cactus League seasons, but never collected another hit.
In 2025, Opitz played 61 games — all but one for Double-A Tennesssee — and hit .201/.296/.293.
The Iowa Cubs recently lost veteran MLB catcher Christian Bethancourt to the New York Yankees. With his playing time dwindling, or at least not ticking up, Opitz is ready to call it a career.