Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre announced his retirement at age 39 on Tuesday.

In a statement released through his team of the last eight years, he said, “After careful consideration and many sleepless nights, I’ve made the decision to retire from what I’ve been doing my whole life, which is playing baseball, the game I love.”

Hall of Fame Ranger Adrian Beltre retires

The announcement leaves only his Rangers teammate, 45-year-old Bartolo Colon, as the lone active player to begin his career in the 1990s.

Beltre’s career took an unusual path. Without the last eight years of his career, it’s hard to imagine that he’d be a Hall of Famer. But today, with 3166 hits, 477 home runs, and one of the premier gloves in the game, he’s all but a shoo-in for Cooperstown, New York.

He was first plucked from the Dominican Republic by the Los Angeles Dodgers. At 19, he’d debut as the skinny third baseman that was a solid, all-around player but nothing special. He’d spend seven years in the NL West, racking up 949 hits and 147 homers. But it wasn’t till 2005 that he broke out. Beltre would lead the league with 48 homers, hitting an impressive .334 and raking in 200 hits.

But then Beltre bolted, signing a five-year, $64 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. Joining free agent Richie Sexson on an AL-West worst Mariners team did nothing to help him. During his five years at Safeco Field, Beltre wouldn’t hit more than 26 homers or over .276. He did turn into a Gold Glover during his time there, winning two back to back in 2007 and 2008.

But at the end of five years, the Mariners let him walk. Beltre would sign a one year “prove it” deal with the Boston Red Sox. His time there would be a career renaissance. Not only would he lead the league in doubles with 49, but he also made his first All-Star team.

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After that year, Beltre would sign to the Rangers. It was there that he’d become the face of the franchise. He’d lead them to within one out of a World Series championship in his first year, 2011. They’d go to the playoffs four times during his first six years there.

Despite being a humble player, Beltre would make four more All-Star teams and win three additional Gold Gloves. He’d also finish within the top ten in MVP voting five times.  During his time in Texas, he’d become a fan favorite and add 1,277 hits and 199 home runs.

Beltre retires with a unique legacy. Not only is he the modern face of the Texas Rangers, but he’s also the rare player who peaks on the “wrong” side of 30. He did this all while avoiding steroid rumors. Both advanced analytics and traditional stats favor the third baseman. This wasn’t the case for him at 30. It’s much more common for a player to be destined for a spot in the Hall and to fall off than it is for one to magically appear in it how he did. Beltre took the less common path.

Five years from now, there will be little debate over his legacy when he’s enshrined in Cooperstown. It will only be over whether he was better at the plate or in the field.

Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish left due to shoulder tightness after five innings of the team’s 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros at Globe Life Park on Wednesday night, in what was his third start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2015.

Rangers Fall To Astros 3-1 At Home As Yu Darvish, Adrian Beltre Leave Early

The Japanese pitcher had just thrown a 63 mph breaking ball for a strikeout in the fifth when he began stretching out and shaking his right arm. After he walked the next batter, the Rangers’ pitching coach and trainer rushed to the mound to examine Darvish’s right shoulder.

Despite the loss, Darvish, 29, said following the game that he wasn’t concerned about his injury, which he says was caused by tightness and his neck.

Dr. Keith Meister, the Rangers’ head physician, examined Darvish but didn’t discover any issues.

“I believe that tomorrow, I think I can play catch, no problem,” the right-hander said through his interpreter. “Everybody told me after the Tommy John surgery you go through all those small things from the different places on your body. I think it’s one of those things and I’m not too concerned about that.”

The Rangers had hoped Darvish would throw up to 95 pitches after he won both of his first two starts. Instead, he threw 76 pitches with seven strikeouts and four walks before leaving with the game tied 1-1. The only run he allowed was a home run to George Springer leading off the game.

“Any time a player comes off the field, there’s concern,” manager Jeff Banister said. “I’m not going to overplay it, and I’m not going to underplay it in any one direction until we get reevaluated.”

Right-handed reliever Shawn Tolleson replaced Darvish to start the sixth inning. Tolleson, who hadn’t pitched since May 25, worked a scoreless sixth, but the Astros collected three hits off Rangers reliever Tom Wilhelmsen in the seventh. The third was the game-winner, a two-run double by Jose Altuve.

Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre also exited early after feeling tightness in his left hamstring in the eighth inning. However, Beltre’s injury, which came after rounding second base, seemed more serious. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday. Jurickson Profar took over as a pinch-runner and then played third base, just as he will Thursday in what was already a scheduled day off for the 37-year-old Beltre.

The Astros (29-32, 3rd in AL West) ended an eight-game losing streak to the Rangers (36-23, 1st in AL West) this season. On the game’s third pitch, Springer lined a homer over the left-field wall for a 1-0 Houston lead. In the third inning, catcher Jason Castro walked and stole second. In the fourth, Luis Valbuena doubled to right and would have scored on Evan Gattis’ hard-hit ball to left, but Rangers center fielder Jared Hoying made a leaping catch against the wall.

“The fastball command seemed to come and go,” Banister said of Darvish. “First outing, he was exceptional. Second outing, he got away with a little bit and today was very similar. We didn’t feel like he was nailing the fastball the way he’s accustomed to and that made it a little bit challenging.”

The two teams will next face off again at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on Thursday afternoon. Astros Right-hander Collin McHugh (5-4) will make his first start against Texas this season. Left-hander Martin Perez (4-4) will start for the Rangers, also for the first time against the Astros this season. He will hope to earn his fourth consecutive victory.

ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 08: Yu Darvish #11 of the Texas Rangers throws in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 8, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)