Rafael Palmeiro to Play for Independent League's Cleburne Railroaders at Age 53

Rafael Palmeiro is reportedly back in baseball at 53 years old.

According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Palmeiro said Tuesday he will play for the Cleburne Railroaders of the independent American Association. Their season starts May 18, and Cleburne's roster also features Palmeiro's oldest son, Patrick.

Grant noted Palmeiro said prior to the 2018 Major League Baseball season he was planning on making a comeback and preferred to do so as a member of the Texas Rangers. Texas, however, did not entertain the possibility of signing him.

The slugger played 20 seasons in the majors for the Chicago Cubs, Rangers and Baltimore Orioles, last appearing in a game in 2005 with Baltimore.

While he hit 569 home runs, he is not in the Hall of Fame. Palmeiro had connections to performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended in 2005 for violating MLB's anti-drug policy. He had previously denied he used steroids during a congressional hearing.

This isn't the first time Palmeiro will play for an independent team since his MLB career ended. He also suited up for the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2015, though it was for just one game.