Former Astros slugger Evan Gattis confirms he is 'done playing'

Burly backstop-turned-DH Evan Gattis confirmed his playing career is now finished during an appearance on the "755 Is Real" podcast with The Athletic’s David O’Brien and Eric O’Flaherty (audio link; profanity warning). Gattis, 33, says he’s “done playing” professionally.

This news was expected. Gattis did not play in 2018 after wrapping up his tenure with the Astros. Last we heard, he was not seeking playing opportunities. His productivity waned in 2018, though Gattis would have likely caught on somewhere had he pursued a deal.

It’s sad to see Gattis depart. His mythical emergence with the Braves as something of an everyman Paul Bunyan is one of the most interesting tales of contemporary baseball. After battling mental health issues and taking a prolonged detour, Gattis improbably returned to the game and carved out a six-year big-league career, slashing .248/.300/.476 with 139 home runs.

While the main plot points of his personal story were already known, it’s quite another thing to hear Gattis humbly and thoughtfully narrate his epic tale. The above-linked podcast is highly recommended listening.