Jamey Wright retires from baseball

PHOENIX -- The comeback attempt by pitcher Jamey Wright has ended, with the 41-year-old right-hander announcing his retirement from baseball on Monday.

He met with manager Dave Roberts on Sunday and was told he wouldn't make the team.

"I wish I could look at him in surprise and in shock that I'm not making this team, but I knew the other night would probably be my last night on the mound," Wright said. "I'm just happy I got out of it without giving up a run."

Wright had high praise for Roberts, a first-year manager just 31 months his senior.

"I'll be sad that I don't get to play for him this year, because he is a class act," Wright said. "I've known since the first day he addressed this team they've got something to look forward to this summer in LA because he's as good as they get."

Wright allowed nine runs on 14 hits in just 6⅔ innings in his eight Cactus League appearances this spring, with six strikeouts and two walks. His final appearance came on Saturday night, a perfect ninth inning for a save against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch, his third scoreless appearance this spring.

The Dodgers signed Wright to a minor league contract on Feb. 24, after camp began, as a non-roster invitee, after Wright rekindled the fire for pitching during offseason workouts with nearby Dallas buddy and throwing partner Clayton Kershaw.

Wright said at times this spring he knew this would be it.

"I had a million different things going through my head, while I am on the mound some times I would ask if I was looking at the glove when I threw that pitch," Wright recalled. "My focus has been somewhere else."

Wright last pitched in the majors in 2014 with the Dodgers. He failed to make the Rangers during spring training in 2015, then sat out the remainder of the season before deciding to try again with the Dodgers this year. The right-hander made a club eight straight seasons as a non-roster invitee to spring training (2006-2013), including in 2012 with the Dodgers.

Drafted by the Rockies in the first round in 1993, Wright would end up pitching for 10 major league teams, totaling 19 seasons, 248 starts, 471 relief appearances and 2,036⅔ innings.

He is one of 10 players in MLB history with 200 or more starts and 400 or more relief appearances, a list that also includes former Dodgers Rick Honeycutt and Charlie Hough.

"I have no regrets in this game. Everything I got I had to work really, really hard for," Wright said. "What I tell some of the young guys is that the hardest thing to do is staying in the big leagues, and there is no excuse for letting somebody out-work you."

Wright said he might one day get into coaching, but for now he was focused on "being with the most important team," his wife and three kids.

"I am very blessed to be in the clubhouse and be with these guys I missed it last year and I will continue to miss it," Wright said. "One thing about pitching for 10 different teams, I've got more friends than anybody. That's one of my greatest accomplishments."