Cincinnati Reds

2003 Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis to Retire

Dontrelle Willis who enjoyed a remarkable 5-year career in Florida will retire from MLB

Dontrelle Willis will become the latest member of the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins to retire from Major League Baseball.

In 2003, Willis blasted onto the scene and was one of the biggest reasons for the title run. His fantastic season not only helped the Marlins capture rings but it resulted in him being named the National League Rookie of the Year.

In his five years with the Marlins, Willis had 68 wins and went to the All-Star Game twice. His best year was in 2005 when he nearly won the Cy Young award. With 22 wins and a 2.63 E.R.A, Willis had one of the most dominant seasons in franchise history. At only 23-years old, it appeared the Marlins had an ace for years to come.

Fans would flock to the stadium that is currently known as Sun Life Stadium whenever Willis would start. Attendance would not only soar but overall excitement would. Willis, who was affectionately known as "D-Train," was beloved by his teammates and the fans during his time with the Marlins. Often times, fans could be seen running around the stairs with large signs in the design of a train.

Willis was decent in 2006 but that would turn out to be the beginning of the end for the exciting southpaw. After a disappointing 2007 season, the Marlins moved Willis to the Detroit Tigers in a package that included Miguel Cabrera. Willis would never get his feet settled in with the Tigers and was traded early into his third season with the team.

After brief stops with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds, Willis did not appear in the big leagues in 2012-2014. This spring, Willis was trying to mount a comeback with the Milwaukee Brewers. That was until his decision to retire on Friday was made public by manager Ron Roenicke.

Earlier in the off-season, fellow 2003 champions Josh Beckett and Juan Pierre also retired. One 2003 roster member that has returned to the team is Lenny Harris, albeit in a coaching role.

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