x
Breaking News
More () »

Former Cleveland Indians All-Star Victor Martinez: Saturday will be final game of career

Martinez will go down as one of the better designated hitters of the past decade.
Credit: David Maxwell/Getty Images
Victor Martinez waves to the Cleveland Indians crowd after receiving a plaque honoring his announced retirement during a pre-game ceremony before the start of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 15, 2018.

Victor Martinez plans to end his career at Comerica Park.

Martinez said his last game will be Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, according to a Tigers spokesperson.

Martinez, speaking to a scrum of reporters, thanked Tigers fans on Friday for their support over the years and said, according to MLive, "after tomorrow, it's going to be it. That will be my last game. This is one way to thank everybody."

Martinez will go down as one of the better designated hitters of the past decade. He made five All-Star teams, including in 2014 when he was runner-up in American League MVP voting. He said in August that he planned to retire after this season.

Martinez's career started in Cleveland in 2002. He spent seven-plus season with the Indians before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2009.

Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians at bat during Game Five of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Jacobs Field on October 18, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 2010, he signed with the Tigers as a free agent and played a role in one of the most successful eras of Tigers baseball, even though he missed the 2012 run to the World Series with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Martinez entered Friday's game with 246 career home runs, 423 doubles and a .295 career batting average.

The Tigers have three games remaining against the Kansas City Royals, before an off day Monday and a six-game road trip to end the season.

Before You Leave, Check This Out