Former Tigers starting pitcher announces retirement

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Francisco Liriano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
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Francisco Liriano, who pitched for parts of 14 seasons in the big leagues, has formally announced his retirement.

The 38-year-old last pitched in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He opted out of the COVID-shortened 2020 season and signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last season but did not make the club out of spring training.

Liriano pitched one season for the Detroit Tigers, posting a 4.58 ERA in 133 2/3 innings in 2018, but Tigers’ fans might be more likely to remember him for his many starts against the Tigers while pitching for division rival Minnesota.

Liriano burst onto the scene with an outstanding rookie season in 2006 for the first-place Twins. He finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting behind Justin Verlander and Jonathan Papelbon after posting a 12-3 record and 2.16 ERA in 121 innings.

It was Liriano’s one and only All-Star appearance, and he underwent Tommy John surgery after the season, causing him to miss all of 2007 and part of 2008.

Liriano went on to have a very successful career with the Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Tigers, even if he never reached the superstardom that his rookie season portended.

He signed with Detroit prior to the 2018 season, reuniting with manager Ron Gardenhire, his old skipper in Minnesota. Liriano struggled with control at times, walking 73 batters and striking out 110, but he ultimately gave the Tigers 26 starts, which is what they were looking for in a veteran fifth starter during that rebuilding season.

Liriano, a native of the Dominican Republic, finishes his career with a 112-114 record and 4.15 ERA in 1,813 innings pitched. He struck out 1,815 batters, making him one of only 10 pitchers in the divisional era (1969-present) to strike out more than a batter per inning (minimum 1,500 innings pitched).

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