A Year After Attempting Suicide, This Baseball Player Just Hit a Home Run For the Ages

Just over a year after Drew Robinson lost his right eye in a suicide attempt, the one-time Texas Ranger hit a home run that brought “tears of every emotion in the book” to his eyes as he rounded the bases.

At 29, Robinson is returning to baseball after a battle with depression and the suicide attempt that led to several reconstructive surgeries last year. He shared his story of depression and the road to recovery in an emotional E60 documentary, telling ESPN, “I’m here for a reason . . . I was supposed to tell a story.” Over the past year, Robinson worked back into form physically and sought to overcome the difficulty of playing baseball with one eye, even as he began to address his mental health by seeking therapy and taking medication. After spending spring training with the San Francisco Giants, Robinson was named to the organization’s Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento Rivercats, one level below the majors. And that led to the scene in Las Vegas on Monday, when Robinson took a pitch over the right field fence for his first professional home run since 2018.

Knowing the story behind Robinson’s comeback, it’s emotional enough to watch the official broadcast clip of the home run (above). But Robinson also shared the view from where his family sat in the stands, and when he points to them after crossing home plate, the full import of the moment couldn’t be clearer. Robinson tagged the post “#BiggerThanBaseball,” and that about sums it up. Watch the incredible moment ahead.

If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal ideation or are at risk, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has several resources and a 24/7 lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.