Former Major League Baseball star and New York Yankees legend, CC Sabathia, is embracing the joys of retirement by dedicating time to his family. Now 45, the celebrated pitcher is proud of his wife, Amber, and their four children, especially as his son Carsten pursues a professional baseball career.

Watching Son Carsten Chase Baseball Dreams

Sabathia shared his enthusiasm for watching his son, Carsten Sabathia III, compete at the collegiate level. Carsten, 22, is currently a senior infielder for the University of Houston Cougars, having previously played at Georgia Tech.

The former ace spoke exclusively to Us Weekly regarding Netflix’s coverage of MLB’s 2026 Opening Day. “It's been incredible to watch him chasing his dream and loving baseball and actually playing well,” Sabathia stated about his son.

Self-Made Success and Parental Pride

Sabathia emphasized that his son’s drive comes entirely from within. “That kid did everything on his own. Everything that you see from him, he's kind of self made,” the former pitcher noted.

Carsten’s current statistics show strong performance, batting .315 with five home runs through 19 games this season. Sabathia insisted he takes no credit for his son's achievements, stating, “I just love to be his dad. He's a great human, great kid, and I love to see him having success.”

Crediting Wife Amber for Family Support

The MLB Hall of Famer acknowledged the crucial role his wife, Amber, 44, played during his playing career. She managed the household and raised their four children while Sabathia was focused on baseball.

“I give Amber a lot of credit, basically raising four kids on their own,” Sabathia explained. He appreciates that now he can “just hang out and be friends with them,” enjoying their life as a “baseball family.”

Honors and Favorite Times in Retirement

Sabathia, who last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2019, is set to receive further accolades this summer. The storied Yankees franchise will retire his No. 52, enshrining it in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

For Sabathia, retirement has brought about what he calls his “favorite time.” He cherishes moments “when we're all together and get a chance to travel and kids are home from college.”

Respect from Former Teammates

Sabathia continues to command respect from his former colleagues. Former Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher praised Sabathia’s character, particularly regarding his public handling of personal challenges.

Swisher, 45, told Us he was proud of how Sabathia managed his 2015 rehab for alcohol abuse. “I could not be more proud of the way that he handled those things, not very easy things, and he handled them with class and grace and in the public eye,” Swisher stated. This resilience is why Swisher holds such deep admiration for the former ace.