Mariano Rivera, the all-time saves leader in Major League Baseball history, officially announced Saturday that 2013 will be his final major league season. In a news conference at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the 43-year-old closer made the expected announcement official with his family, Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner, and the entire Yankee roster, at his side.
"After this year, I will be retiring," Rivera said. "It's not too easy when you come to a decision like this. After this year, I will be retired. ... Now you're hearing it from me. It's official now."
Rivera admitted he would have retired at the end of last season had he not suffered a season ending injury in May of last year. "I didn't want to leave like that," he said. "I felt like I wanted to give everything."
On Saturday afternoon, Rivera returned to game action for the first time since tearing his ACL. The closer appeared in the fifth inning of a Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves, retired the side in order, and struck out the final two batters he faced.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
