Northern California native Pat Burrell, the outfielder who returned home and won a World Series with the Giants in 2010, will retire as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies made the announcement via press release on Thursday.
Burrell will sign a one-day contract and be honored on May 19 when he throws out the first pitch before the Phillies play the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park.
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Burrell, 35, was the first overall pick in the 1998 draft by Philadelphia. He ranks fourth in Phillies club history with 251 homers, eighth in RBI (821) and ninth in extra-base hits (518). Burrell won a World Series with Philadelphia in 2008.
As a member of the Giants, Burrell played in 188 games and hit .252 with 25 homers and 72 RBI. In the 2010 World Series, however, his bat disappeared when he went hitless in 15 plate appearances.
Still, San Francisco fans won't forget Burrell's presence in the clubhouse and good friendship with his former University of Miami teammate, Aubrey Huff. And who could forget Burrell's role as Brian Wilson's next-door neighbor, "The Machine?"
"Pat the Bat" will also throw out the first pitch this Tuesday when the Giants honor him before San Francisco faces the Phillies at AT&T Park.
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Manager Bruce Bochy told Giants Insider Andy Baggarly that Burrell would approach him during blowout games and offer to serve as an emergency pitcher. He went as far to start getting loose in an indoor cage a few times.
As far as Burrell's ceremonial first pitch next Tuesday, Bochy said "I'll get a chance to see what it looks like I guess. He won't bounce it. There's a lot of pride there. If he bounces it, he knows he won't hear the end of it."
Giants Insider Andy Baggarly contributed to this report