Blue Jays Shortstop Omar Vizquel Set to Retire after Season - East Idaho News
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Blue Jays Shortstop Omar Vizquel Set to Retire after Season

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Getty S 62712 Vizquel?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1340793203627Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — After 24 years in Major League Baseball, 45-year-old Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Omar Vizquel has confirmed that 2012 will be his last season in the big leagues.

Vizquel is currently serving as a utility player for the Blue Jays and has played sparingly.

“This will be my last year,” Vizquel originally said in Spanish. “I’ve enjoyed this game a lot, but I think it’s time to pursue a new career as a coach or manager, and hopefully I’ll get the opportunity in the future.”

2012 will cap off a stellar career for Vizquel. He broke into the Majors back in 1989 with the Seattle Mariners. He went on to win 11 gold gloves and made three All-Star teams.

Vizquel will also leave the game as the all-time leader in career games played by a shortstop. He is also the active leader in hits, seventh in runs scored, and fifth in steals.

This season, Vizquel is hitting .224 with just two runs batted in.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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