BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball after a 16-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in history.
“After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it was time to start a new chapter in my life,” he said in a statement released Tuesday by his agent, Dan Lozano. “It has been an amazing journey . . . So today, I walk away with no regrets.”
Piazza’s 396 homers are easily the most for a catcher, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Carlton Fisk is second with 351, followed by Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306).
Footnotes.
Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Doug Davis, who has been recovering from thyroid cancer surgery, will return to the rotation Friday at Atlanta, manager Bob Melvin said.
• Minnesota Twins second baseman Matt Tolbert will have surgery Thursday to repair an injured ligament on his left thumb, and it will take more than four weeks before he starts rehabilitation.
• Florida Marlins left-fielder Josh Willingham could be sidelined at least another month because of a herniated disc that has kept him out since April 27.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers placed backup catcher Gary Bennett on the 15-day DL because of plantar fascitis in his left foot.
