Phillies legend Cole Hamels retires from MLB after 15 seasons

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Philadelphia Phillies legend Cole Hamels, who won a World Series and was named NLCS MVP and World Series MVP in 2008, has retired. 

The San Diego Padres placed Hamels, who has not pitched for the team this season, on the voluntarily retired list Friday. 

Padres right-hander Craig Stammen was also added to that list.

Hamels ends an MLB career that spans 15 years with four All-Star games and a career 3.43 ERA in 2,698 innings. 

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World Series MVP Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies is presented with the MVP trophy by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and Fox Sports reporter Chris Meyers after the Phillies' 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series Oct. 29, 2008, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. (Pool/Getty Images)

Hamels was a prized prospect for the Phillies coming out of Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego and was selected 17th overall in the 2002 MLB draft. 

After 3½ years of development in the minors, Hamels made his MLB debut May 12, 2006, against the Cincinnati Reds at 22 years old. He started that game, going five innings, allowing one hit and no runs, while striking out seven and walking five. 

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Hamels stuck with the Phillies’ rotation after that season and quickly became a reliable lefty arm. His favorite pitch was a wickedly deceptive change-up that baffled hitters. Mixed with his other pitches, Hamels ate innings, eclipsing 200 innings in eight of his 15 seasons. 

Starting pitcher Cole Hamels of the Chicago Cubs delivers a pitch