Ben Sheets to Retire

Sheets’ career was derailed by injuries. He’ll make his final start on Wednesday. Image: US Presswire

Atlanta Braves right hander Ben Sheets was one of the great stories of 2012. Out of baseball after repeated injuries to his once-magical right arm, Sheets was signed by the Braves mid-season and made eight starts with a 3.54 ERA before shoulder troubles shut him down again.

In Wednesday’s season finale for the Braves, Sheets will make his 250th and final career start. He will retire after the game.

The 34-year-old owns a 94-96 career record and 3.78 ERA. He was a first-round pick by Milwaukee in the 1999 draft and two years later, as a 22-year-old rookie, Sheets was named to the first of four career all-star teams.

Sheets’ best season came with the Brewers in 2004 when he finished eighth in the Cy Young balloting despite a 12-14 record. That season, Sheets posted a career-best 2.70 ERA along with 264 strikeouts and just 32 walks.