So long, Willie: Bloomquist calls it quits after 14 seasons in baseball

SEATTLE - South Kitsap High graduate and longtime Seattle Mariner Willie Bloomquist is calling it a career.

Bloomquist, who broke into the major leagues in 2002, was drafted by the Mariners in the eight round of the 1996 draft, then again by the Mariners in the third round of the 1999 draft after he decided to play at Arizona State.

As is the style at the time, he announced his retirement with a video on Twitter. In it, Bloomquist drills a pitch deep, then flips his bat as he's walking off.

The Port Orchard native batted .269 in 1,055 games for the Mariners, Reds, Royals and Diamondbacks.