Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland retires from baseball

Ryan Westmoreland announced his retirement from professional baseball in an email to several members of the media on Wednesday.

“With a clear mind and heart, as well as the unwavering support and friendship of my family, friends, agent(s), doctors, therapists and the Boston Red Sox, I have decided to voluntarily retire as a professional baseball player,” Westmoreland wrote. “Although it is a very difficult decision for me, it has become clear that the neurological damage caused by the most recent cavernous malformation and surgery leaves me with physical challenges that make it impossible to play the game at such a high level.”

A former star at Portsmouth High School, the 22-year-old Westmoreland emerged one of the top prospects in the Red Sox organization shortly after he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, signing a $2 million contract to forgo a commitment to Vanderbilt.