Joba Chamberlain won't pursue MLB return: 'It's time to be a dad'
Ten years ago to the day, pitcher Joba Chamberlain was famously attacked by midges on the mound during the American League Division Series while he was still a member of the New York Yankees. Now the 32-year-old is calling it quits to spend more time with his son.
Chamberlain said Wednesday he won't attempt a return to the big leagues because he wants to concentrate on being a father.
"No, it's time to be a dad," Chamberlain told George A. King III of the New York Post. "Karter is in junior high and obviously this year I got to see him play a lot. It was fun to watch. We went to Cooperstown (for a tournament) and that was fun for the boys."
His presumed retirement comes as the Yankees are about to square off with the Cleveland Indians - their human opponents during the midge incident in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS - starting Thursday.
Chamberlain hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2016 with the Indians. He posted a respectable 2.25 ERA in 20 games and then signed a minor-league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in January, but was released in March and hasn't pitched since.
Over his 10-year career, the former first-round draft choice posted a 25-21 record with a 3.81 ERA during 385 appearances, 43 of which were starts.