Ryan Freel, the colorful utility man who spent six seasons of his eight year baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds, has sadly taken his own life at the age of 36, according First Coast News in Jacksonville.

Freel had been working as a coach for Big League Development Baseball, an organization that helps develop local youth baseball players. Looking back to this article from 2007 about Freel giving back to the community, particularly some of his thoughtful quotes, makes the news that much more difficult to digest, if that’s possible. Our heart goes out to the Freel family during this excruciatingly painful time.