Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke told reporters at Brewers camp on Friday that pitcher Dontrelle Willis has decided to retire, according to Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports.
2003 NL Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis ends comeback bid, plans to retire: http://t.co/DT1pWzhY6A pic.twitter.com/KglWXCSd46
— MLB (@MLB) March 13, 2015
Willis, 33, was attempting to return to the Majors for the first time since 2011. He threw two-thirds of an inning for the Giants’ Class AAA team in Fresno in 2014 and made two starts for the independent Bridgeport Bluefish.
Willis became a sensation in his rookie season in 2003, winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award and helping the Marlins win the NL Wild Card en route to the franchise’s second world championship.