Ryan Freel, who played for five MLB teams between 2001 and 2009, has committed suicide at age 36, according to multiple reports.
Sgt. Mike Paul of the Jacksonville (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Florida Times-Union that Freel, a Jacksonville native, was found dead from a self-inflicted shotgun wound Saturday at his home around 4 p.m. local time.
Paul confirmed to the newspaper that authorities were treating the death as a suicide.
Freel, a utilityman who played outfield, second base and third base, spent most of his MLB career (six seasons) with the Cincinnati Reds. He also played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in 10th round of the 1995 draft. He stole over 35 bases in three straight seasons with the Reds from 2004-06.
First Coast News, a Florida television network, first reported Freel's suicide.
