A special Mass at a Roman Catholic church on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla., was planned as a remembrance for Ryan Freel, a former major leaguer who committed suicide nearly one year ago at 36. It became more than that, however, after Freel's family had learned four days earlier of a factor that might have precipitated his death on Dec. 22, 2012.
An examination of his brain tissue by medical researchers at Boston University concluded that severe symptoms plaguing Freel, who played baseball with abandon, could be traced to collisions involving his head.
Freel had reached the second of four stages of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), which can give rise to erratic behavior, cognitive difficulties, memory loss, inattentiveness and depression — all symptoms Freel experienced.
Freel, who had a distinctive carefree style during his eight seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds, is the first baseball player linked to C.T.E. Freel's family authorized the study, which is conducted post-mortem. However, the findings do not confirm that C.T.E., which results from repetitive brain trauma and is evidenced by an accumulation of protein known as tau, was a byproduct of Freel's baseball career.
"There is no way to say his neurodegenerative disease was the cause of his death or the tumultuous 10 years prior to his death," said Dr. Bob Stern, a neurology and neurosurgery professor and a co-founder of Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Clark Vargas, Freel's stepfather, advised close relatives Sunday that he would disclose the findings to the congregation, which included former members of Freel's travel youth baseball program that Vargas has adopted. Objections were raised by the oldest of Freel's three daughters, ages 5 to 9.
Her mother, Christie, offered reassurance, telling the girl, "It's nothing to be embarrassed about," according to Vargas. Divulging the news, Mrs. Freel said, would affirm that Freel did not leave the family — and the world — with a clear mind.
The drastic changes in Freel's brain could explain a steady decline that led to a fatal, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The B.U. Center's examination of athletes has focused on football, and research published earlier this year indicated that of 35 deceased players whose brain matter was inspected, all but one showed signs of C.T.E. Several were suicide victims. One of the most prominent players, Dave Duerson, had attained the third stage of C.T.E.
Stern said he was initially skeptical that a baseball player would develop the disease. Then he learned during the investigation not only about Freel's history of collisions with outfield walls and other players but that his first of several concussions unrelated to sports may have occurred at age 2.
"So it wasn't a complete surprise," he said of the findings, reached in conjunction with Dr. Ann McKee, a co-director of the B.U. Center. "He wasn't the typical M.L.B. player."
Stern tamped down any possible worries that the risk in baseball approached that of football's.
"I don't think baseball is going to become a high-risk activity for C.T.E.," he said. "I don't think parents should immediately say: 'That does it. My kid should not play Little League.' "
He added, at all levels of athletics, "we need to pay better attention to our brains. Try to take the head out of these activities."
Citing confidentiality, Stern declined to say if other deceased baseball players were being checked for C.T.E.
While expressing relief that the study provided closure to the family, Vargas voiced frustration that specialists who treated Freel could not connect the concussions to his descent, which included alcohol abuse and divorce.
"Why weren't the dots put together over the last 11 years?" Vargas said. "He was being treated for depression and they knew he was getting concussions. Couldn't they put it together that one was affecting another?"
The family was informed of the results Wednesday while attending the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Orlando, Fla. That day, M.L.B., out of concern about concussions, announced a ban on home-plate collisions effective next season, pending approval by the players association.
"What they told us was basically what we already knew," Vargas said of the study.
In an interview shortly after Freel's death, Christie Freel recalled growing anxiety over her husband's health. She had urged him to play more cautiously.
Freel defended his style but acknowledged the danger, saying it was necessary for someone small and moderately talented.
"I don't have the size and the power," Freel told her, "but I have the heart."
Even so, Mrs. Freel said in the interview that the suicide was unexpected. She did not return messages Monday seeking comment.
Vargas said he would not have wanted Freel to dial back any fearlessness on the field. At the same time, had he known about the concussions dating to childhood, Vargas said, he might have felt differently.
Vargas noted the stigma associated with suicide in the Roman Catholic faith and said he felt compelled to shed light on Freel's death during the Mass.
The "bittersweet news," as he labeled it, also provided solace for the daughters, while the adults prepare for the anniversary of Freel's death on Sunday.
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