(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers retired Tuesday after 21 seasons in a career in which he hit 477 home runs and became the first player from the Dominican Republic to have 3,000 hits.

The 39-year-old third baseman announced his decision in a statement released by the Rangers, saying it is time for the "next chapter of my life."

"After careful consideration and many sleepless nights, I have made the decision to retire from what I've been doing my whole life, which is playing baseball, the game I love," Beltre said. "I have thought about it a lot and although I appreciate all the opportunities and everything that baseball has given me, it's time to call it a career."

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