At 36 years old, Edinson Volquez is facing the final curtain.
The veteran Texas Rangers right-hander told reporters on Saturday that he plans to retire after the 2019 season.
“Done,” he said, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “Out. He gone.”
Volquez, who has been sidelined since April with a throwing elbow injury, did add however that he would like pitch again this season before calling it quits.
“I don’t want to go out this, like I’m quitting,” he went on. “I want to try. As a player if you have a chance to do it, whether it’s a couple months or a couple weeks, why not? I want to prove to myself I can do it this year.”
The Dominican pitcher also said that he does not want to go through another round of free agency and another potential rehab this offseason.
Volquez, who is 93-87 with a 4.43 ERA in 14 MLB seasons, was an All-Star back in 2008. He also went on to win the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 and later threw a no-hitter for the Miami Marlins in 2017.
Having gone through seemingly all the ups and downs of a professional career (including two Tommy John surgeries on that same right elbow), Volquez sounds at peace with his decision to hang up the cleats after 2019 is complete.
