http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/87...parent-suicide

Baseball can be a brutal game if you're not one of those players who manages to play out a full career.

He had a few okay years in his early 30s, making about $1.5 million per year at his peak, but was ultimately knocked out of the game by injuries.

These guys pretty much hinge their whole life and whole being onto making it in the Major Leagues, and when they fail (or briefly succeed, then fail), it can spiral them into a major depression.

Freel already likely had some psychological issues, as he revealed in 2006 that he talked to an imaginary friend in his head.