Ex-Cy Young winner, World Series champion Hentgen retires from baseball

TORONTO — Former Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen retired Saturday in the middle of a poor season for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 35-year-old right-hander is 2-9 with a 6.95 ERA after returning to the Blue Jays last offseason.

“It’s been a tough grind for me, mentally and physically,” Hentgen said. “I’m not just helping the club like I want to. I always told myself I would retire from baseball if I felt like I couldn’t do what I’m used to doing. I think it’s the right time.”

Hentgen won the 1996 A.L. Cy Young Award, going 20-10 with a 3.22 ERA. The three-time All-Star spent 14 seasons in the majors, going 131-112 with a 4.32 ERA. He also pitched for St. Louis and Baltimore.

“I’m definitely relieved because it’s been on my mind for about a month,” said Hentgen, who was dropped from the rotation in June.

Drafted by Toronto in 1986, Hentgen spent his first nine seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays before being traded after the 1999 season to St. Louis.

“I always said when I played here that I’d like to retire as a Blue Jay, and lo and behold I did it,” he said.

His teammates gave him a standing ovation when he addressed them before Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay. Fans also gave him one in the second inning.

“He had amazing intensity,” slugger Carlos Delgado said. “He’s had a remarkable career, a Cy Young, two World Series and an All-Star.”

Hentgen won back-to-back World Series with the Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993.

He says the highlight of his career was watching Game 4 of the 1993 World Series, when the Blue Jays rallied for a 15-14 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.