Derek Jeter to retire after 2014 season

Yankee captain Derek Jeter to hang up the cleats after 2014.

(John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports)

Never knew Derek Jeter had a Facebook page. Should have considering how social media is utilized by athletes these days.

Well, on that very page today, Jeets made a somewhat startling announcement: he will retire after this season. The Yankee captain penned a letter and posted a photo of it on his Facebook page. Here’s a little from Jeter’s letter.

"Last year was a tough one for me. As I suffered through a bunch of injuries, I realized that some things that always came easily to me and always were fun had started to become a struggle. The one thing I always said to myself was that when baseball started to feel more like a job, it would be time to move forward.So really it was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last. As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100% sure.And the thing is, I could not be more sure. I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last yer playing professional baseball."

I’m by no means a fan of the Yankees, but I am a fan of Derek Jeter. This news does make me sad as I have enjoyed watching him play over the past two decades.

You can read the letter in its entirety here, but snag your reading glasses. It’s kind of hard to read since it’s a photo.