Red Sox catcher Varitek set to retire: reports

(Reuters) - Boston Red Sox catcher and captain Jason Varitek will bring an end to his illustrious career on Thursday, Major League Baseball reported on its website.

The 39-year-old has played his entire career with the Red Sox, where his grit and determination helped define the team and lead them to a pair of World Series titles.

A three-time American League All Star, Varitek will retire with a Red Sox record 1,488 appearances as catcher.

His expected announcement will come roughly a month after rival catcher Jorge Posada retired from the New York Yankees.

Varitek will hang up his mitt with a .256 career batting average, 193 home runs and 757 RBIs as a switch-hitter, but his value to Boston transcended his statistics.

Varitek's wife Catherine congratulated her husband on his career via Twitter.

"I could not be more proud of my husband! What a truly remarkable 14 years with the Boston Red Sox. You are a true Champion," she tweeted.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)