Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher JA Happ retired after 15 seasons in major league baseball.
The 39-year-old made the announcement during his appearance on the “Heart Strong” podcast.
“I maybe didn’t feel what I needed to feel to think I wanted to keep doing this. I felt like it was a sign, like, “OK, it’s time to go,” Happ said.
“I think I’m still realizing it, but I’m waking up feeling great and happy to start the process of being a full-time dad, for now, at the very least.”
The Illinois native began his major league career in 2007 with the Philadelphia Phillies, the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2004 amateur auction.
Happ played for the Blue Jays from 2012 to 2014 and from 2016 to 2018. He was also a member of the Houston Astros (2010 to 2012), Seattle Mariners (2015), Pittsburgh Pirates (2015), New York Yankees (2018 to 2020), Minnesota Twins (2021) and St. Louis Cardinals (2021).
In 328 career starts, Happ went 133-100 with a 4.13 ERA. He was invited to the baseball all-star game in 2018, when he played with the Jays.