On Friday the New York Yankees placed catcher Chris Iannetta on the restricted list. According to a report by Jon Heyman, the Rhode Island native is retiring from baseball. The 37-year-old has had a long career in the big leagues after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Over the years the former St.Rays standout has played for the Rockies, Angels, Mariners, Diamondbacks, and was most recently under contract with the Yankees but did not appear in the game this season. In 1,197 major league games Iannetta hit 141 home runs while batting .230 in 3,563 at-bats. He drove in 502 RBIs and had a career OPS of .751.
In an interview with Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times back in February, Iannetta suggested that he wouldn’t accept a minor league assignment. It was Yankees or bust for the Rhode Islander.
If Ianetta is indeed retiring the Rhode Islanders mantle will stay hot with a number of players still playing America’s greatest past-time. As for Rhode Islanders in the big leagues Ianetta will go down with the best of them.
