Derek Jeter announces he will retire after 2014 season
Derek Jeter said he "could not be more sure" that it's the right decision to retire after 2014. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter took to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon to announce that he will retire after the 2014 season.
The 13-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion has spent his entire career with the Yankees. He made his MLB debut in May 1995. The 39-year-old said Wednesday that he made the decision months ago and "could not be more sure" that it's the right time to leave the game:
"It was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last. As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100 percent sure,” Jeter wrote. “And the thing is, I could not be more sure. I know it in my heart.
"The 2014 season will be my last year playing professional baseball.”
Jeter's announcement comes after a season in which he played only 17 games due to various injuries. In November, the team announced it had a reached a one-year, $12 million deal with its longtime shortstop. In his 19 years with the Yankees -- 2,602 games played -- he has 3,316 hits, 256 home runs and 1,261 RBI and a batting average of .312.
VERDUCCI: The 10 most intriguing questions for spring training