As the San Francisco Giants wrap up their spring-training schedule on Monday night, Sergio Romo will pitch for the final time in his baseball career.

The Giants signed the former North Alabama pitcher on March 18 with the intention of allowing the right-handed reliever to retire in the Orange and Black – not just ceremonially, but with a pitching appearance.

“Still trying to wrap my head around how people can genuinely feel that I deserve something like this,” Romo said. “I understand the teams that I was a part of. I understand the successes that we had. And you know my time, the nine years I spent here, I just never saw myself like that. And I do feel like the perception that people have of me is not the perception that I have of myself.”

Romo started his Major League career with San Francisco in 2008. His 515 pitching appearances rank fifth in franchise history. Romo made six scoreless appearances out of the bullpen for the Giants when they won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014. He represented San Francisco at the All-Star Game in 2013, when he recorded a career-high 38 saves.

“We were a part of some really cool things,” Romo said. “It’s been quite the ride.”

Romo went on to pitch in seven more Major League seasons as he made stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.

Romo made his last MLB appearance on July 14 with the Blue Jays.

“To see my name on a locker as a Giant, it means a lot,” Romo said. “It really does.”

During his 15 MLB seasons, Romo pitched in 821 games, compiled a 42-36 record and saved 137 games. With a 3.21 earned-run average, Romo struck out 789 and yielded 579 hits and 179 walks in 722.2 innings.

Romo might have been preparing for a 16th season this spring, but he decided to spent more time with his family. The 40-year-old has five sons, with the oldest at 17 years old.

“Blessed to be able to say that I’ve done this for 18 years professionally, 15 years at the highest level,” Romo said. “And it’s not that the want and the will to compete is not there. That’s still there. It’s just my boys are at the age where they need me around more.”

Romo played one season with North Alabama and was an All-Gulf South Conference selection in 2004 before moving on to Mesa State.

Only one player from an Alabama high school or college has pitched in more Major League games than Romo. Todd Jones from Jacksonville State pitched in 982 games from 1993 through 2008.

In baseball history, Romo ranks 49th in games pitched and 104th in saves.

The Giants will square off against the Athletics at 8:45 p.m. CDT Monday at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

“I know that I’m going to be excited to run out there and be excited to compete, or try to compete if I can,” Romo said. “But the part that makes me nervous – and I haven’t been nervous in a while – the part that makes me nervous and kind of afraid is walking off.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.