After 16 years in Major League Baseball, left-handed pitcher Jon Lester has announced his retirement. Lester, who is 38 years old, has a career record of 200-117 with a 3.66 ERA in 452 games, including 451 starts. In addition, he had a 2.51 ERA in 26 games in the postseason. In 2007 and 2013, Jon Lester assisted Boston in winning the World Series, and in 2016, he guided the Chicago Cubs to victory. The Cubs’ first championship since 1908 was their first since 1908.
Jon Lester Was A Star
Boston selected Jon Lester in the second round of the amateur draft in 2002. The five-time All-Star made his major league debut in 2006 with the Red Sox, finishing 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts. Lester’s debut season in the majors was cut short as he was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma. Jon underwent treatment and returned to the majors in July 2007. Lester’s NVRQT charity was founded as a result of the experience and helps raise funds for cancer studies. NVRQT is short for Never Quit. In his retirement, he plans to continue working with the charity.
Jon Lester helped the Red Sox to the AL East title by going 4-0 with a 4.57 ERA in 12 games down the stretch, and Lester delivered in the postseason by pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Boston’s victory over Colorado in Game Four of the World Series. Lester signed a $155 million, six-year contract with Chicago after the 2014 season.
Lester may consider TV work. Being a coach is not something he is interested in at the moment. Jon Lester said he will miss many elements of baseball but understands he lived up to the one promise he made to himself.
