Mariano Rivera's Career Probably Over

A freak injury may have just taken out the greatest closer of all time. Mariano Rivera tore his ACL and his meniscus while shagging flyballs during batting practice yesterday, likely ending his season and, many are speculating, his career. Rivera had already hinted that he might retire after this year. Asked if he thought he'd play again, Rivera whispered, "At this point I don't know. Going to have to face this first," Fox Sports reports.

Catching balls in the outfield has been a pregame ritual for Rivera his entire career. Rivera considers himself a decent center fielder, and had even begged Joe Girardi to let him play the position before he retired, the New York Times points out. Girardi had refused, ironically, because he was worried about the risk of injury. "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen doing something I love to do. And shagging I love to do," said Rivera, who has a record 608 saves to his name. "I'd do the same thing, without hesitation." (More Mariano Rivera stories.)