In a heartfelt farewell, a beloved pitcher took the mound for what is likely his final appearance with the franchise. The 34-year-old veteran, who has spent 11 years with the team, tossed 7⅓ shutout innings against a division rival on Saturday. As he took the field for pregame warmups, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the applause continued throughout the game.
The pitcher, known for his stoic demeanor, was visibly emotional as he was pulled from the game in the eighth inning to a standing ovation. “You feel it all, you feel all the emotions,” he said afterward. “Just so, so lucky. And so happy. Just for the fans to give me that… part of me hates it. I hate all that attention, but at the end, I know I have to soak in these moments… I’m such a lucky guy.”
The crowd refused to let him leave without one final curtain call, and the pitcher returned to the dugout to acknowledge their appreciation. The team went on to secure their second consecutive shutout, but all eyes were on the lone remaining member of the championship team.
Throughout the game, the pitcher received multiple ovations, including when he walked out to the bullpen for warmups and when he returned to the dugout before the first inning. Once he settled in, he dominated the opposing team, giving up just two hits and two walks.
“You have to get through that first part,” the team’s manager said. “He did a heck of a job with it. I told a couple of our young players before the game that this is going to be a memorable day. You’re going to remember this day.”
The pitcher’s teammates praised him, calling him a perfect example of what it means to be a part of the franchise. “Not only what he’s done on the field but who he is as a person,” one teammate said. “It’s important in this game to honor that.”
After the game, the teammate spoke to the entire team in front of the pitcher, reciting his impressive career statistics. In 275 regular-season starts, the pitcher compiled a 3.68 ERA and won a championship with the team.
Despite struggling early in the season, the pitcher found his groove again after a stint in the bullpen. He finished the season strong, with a 2.89 ERA in September.
As he looks to the future, the pitcher hopes to continue pitching, but acknowledges it may not be with his current team. “If I had my choice, I would love to be [with this team],” he said. “But that’s so tough. We have so many good, young arms coming up. In this game, you have to perform. I just didn’t do it this year. I didn’t have a great year, so there are ramifications for that.”
The team’s manager believes the pitcher can still have success, even if it’s not with the current franchise. “You don’t count people like that out,” the manager said. “It’s a bet on the person. Simple as that.”
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