Pat Hentgen announced his retirement earlier today. He retires 131-112 with a 4.32 ERA in 344 career games, 306 career starts, with Toronto, St. Louis and Baltimore. He's fourth in wins (107) starts (238), inning pitched (1,636), strikeouts (1,028) and shutouts (nine) on the Blue Jays' all-time lists.
His first tour of duty with Toronto began in 1991 and lasted until 1999. Hentgen won the 1996 Cy Young Award as the top pitcher in the American League, the first Blue Jay so honoured. He was also a key member of the Jays team that won the 1993 World Series.
I was a big Hentgen booster, but I'm glad he's calling it quits. 2-9 with a 6.95 ERA, it's time to let a youngster assume his roster spot. He was a classy guy who served us well and he'll be fondly remembered in Toronto for years and years to come.
