LaTroy Hawkins, Rockies closer, will retire after 2015 season
By Patrick Saunders
The Denver Post
Rockies veteran closer LaTroy Hawkins announced Friday that the 2015 season
will be his last.
Speaking on the MLB Network's "Hot Stove" broadcast, Hawkins said: "Next
Sunday, I'll be 42 and 2015 will be my last year playing professional
baseball. Hopefully not my last year of professional, but it'll be my last
year playing professional baseball."
Hawkins will be entering his 21st season in the majors, and Rockies manager
Walt Weiss said that plans, as of now, are to have Hawkins be the Rockies'
closer again in 2015.
"There are some options, but I think LaTroy is the guy that's closed games
down there, he's got experience doing it," Weiss said at the winter meetings
in San Diego. "He did a nice job for us last year. So as we sit here today,
he's the guy in that spot.
"I think we have some young emerging arms, like I said, some guys with some
power, and maybe they develop into a closer. But as we sit here today, LaTroy
will be the guy pitching in the ninth inning."
The Rockies picked up their $2.25 million option on Hawkins at the end of the
season after he converted 23 of 26 save chances and went 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA
in 57 appearances.
Hawkins has made 1,000 career big-league appearances, ranking 16th in
history, and the most among active pitchers. He is the only active pitcher to
have recorded 100 saves and started 75 games in his career. All 98 of his
career starts came in the first five years of his career with Minnesota.
"I had a great manager in Minnesota by the name of Tom Kelly, and Tom Kelly
always told me that, 'You keep doing this, son, and it'll turn around for
you. You have what it takes, and I've seen it before,' " Hawkins told the MLB
Network. "And when he told me they were going to put me in the bullpen, he
said, 'This is going to help you stay in the big leagues for a long time.'
And he was right."
在MLB投了二十年 待过十队 现役唯一出赛至少1000场的投手
下礼拜天要过42岁生日的 LaTroy Hawkins 在节目中宣布
2015年球季打完就要退休了...