Former Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has officially called it a career, announcing his retirement on Wednesday afternoon.

Second on the Mets’ all-time list with 1,534 base hits, and the leader in stolen bases (408) and triples (113), Reyes was a four-time All-Star selection with the Mets, playing his first nine and final three big league seasons in Queens, with brief stints in Miami, Toronto, and Colorado in between.

“After 16 great MLB seasons I’m officially announcing my retirement from baseball,” Reyes said in a statement. “As a young boy growing up in the Dominican Republic, I could have never dreamed of achieving all that I have through this incredible game. I want to thank God for all my blessings.”

“I want to thank the New York Mets for giving me the opportunity to become a professional baseball player and for bringing me back at the end of my playing career,” Reyes said later in the statement. “I also want to thank the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays organizations as well as all my teammates throughout the years.”

Reyes, an electrifying presence at the top of the lineup who helped the Mets reach the NLCS in 2006, also gave Mets fans a special shout out in his retirement announcement.

“Mets fans, what can I say? We never got the ring we hoped we would get, but I can’t imagine playing in front of any better fans in the whole world.," Reyes said. "Your passion and energy always lifted me higher and for that I will always be grateful.”

As a Met, Reyes slashed .282/.334/.433 with 108 home runs, 521 RBI, and 885 runs scored.

“José Reyes was without a doubt one of the most exciting players to ever wear a Mets uniform,” said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon on behalf of Ownership. "There wasn't a better sight for our fans than José pulling into third with a stand up triple. He came to us as a teenager and on the day of his retirement, we're certain Mets fans along with his entire Mets family wish him nothing but the best.”

Reyes last played in the big leagues with the Mets in 2018, when he appeared in 110 games.

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