ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For the final time of his illustrious career, CC Sabathia will be going to the All-Star Game.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that Sabathia, the New York Yankees’ left-handed pitcher who will retire at the end of this, his 19th big-league season, will be participating in events associated with next week’s game at Cleveland’s Progressive Field.
A Cleveland Indians first-round draft pick in 1998, Sabathia spent parts of the first eight seasons of his career pitching at the ballpark, before he was traded to Milwaukee late in the 2008 season. The next year, he signed as a free agent with New York, helping lead the Yankees to their most recent World Series.
Although he was not voted into the All-Star Game, Sabathia and his family were invited to the game by the commissioner’s office to be “recognized for his contributions to the game and his longtime service to the community.” He’ll be honored before Tuesday’s game itself.
Added commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement: “We are delighted that CC and his family will join us in Cleveland, where his major league career began. We look forward to celebrating his many accomplishments during our All-Star Game festivities.”
Sabathia has made six All-Star Game appearances throughout his career, and has won a Cy Young Award. Earlier this season, he surpassed the 3,000-strikeout plateau and earned his 250th career win. Having accomplished both feats could be enough alone to make him an eventual Hall of Famer.