New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira announced on Friday that he is retiring at the end of the season.
Teixeira is in the final year of his contract. In February he said that he would love to play for another five years. However he has had to deal with injuries the last five years. He had a bulging disk in his neck earlier this season and was on the disabled list in June for a right knee cartilage tear.
"Every kid playing whiffle ball in the backyard or playing Little League, you dream of being a Major League baseball player," Teixeira said. "And after 14 years, it's time for me to do something else. And after this season, I'm going to retire and do something else. I got to live out my dream and had more success than I could ever imagined, but it felt like it was the right time to step away from the game. I want to finish this season on a high note."
Teixeira was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2001. He has played for the Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and the Los Angeles Angels. In 2009 he joined the Yankees. He is hitting .198 with 10 homeruns and 27 RBI’s this season, according to ESPN. He has a .269 average with 404 homeruns and 1,281 RBI’s in his career. Teixeira is a three-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove winner and won a World Series title with the Yankees in 2009.
Yankees prospect Greg Bird, who is missing this season due to shoulder surgery, is expected to replace Teixeira.