Mariano Rivera Says He Will Pitch In 2013 [VIDEO]

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera says he will return to the mound by 2013.

A day after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament while shagging fly balls during batting practice, the 42-year-old closer said he does not want his career to end this way.

"I'm coming back," Rivera said. "Write it down in big letters. I'm not going down like this."

"I love to play the game," Rivera said on the Yankees official website. "I don't think, to me, going out like this is the right way. ... I don't think like that. With the strength of the Lord, I have to continue."

He said that he spoke to Dr. David Altchek in New York and will be examined on Monday, anticipating that surgery will be unavoidable.

The Associated Press contributed to this story