Baseball has always been a game that tests not just talent, but resilience. Even the best hitters fail more often than they succeed.
It’s a sport built on dealing with adversity - physically, mentally, and emotionally. And for former Detroit Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows, that reality hit harder than most.
Meadows, once a top prospect and a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates, looked like he was on the fast track to stardom. When he debuted in 2018, he didn’t just flash potential - he delivered, posting a strong OPS+ of 114.
A year later, after being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in the deal that also sent Tyler Glasnow to Tampa, Meadows broke out in a big way. He smashed 33 home runs, earned a spot on the American League All-Star team, and even picked up MVP votes.
At just 24, he was quickly becoming one of the most exciting young bats in the game.
After a strange and shortened 2020 season - which threw off the rhythm of countless players - Meadows bounced back in 2021 with 27 homers. The Tigers saw an opportunity.
In need of a middle-of-the-order bat, they swung a deal with the Rays, sending infielder Isaac Paredes to Tampa in exchange for Meadows. Detroit believed they had landed a foundational piece for their rebuild heading into 2022.
But baseball doesn’t always follow the script.
Meadows’ time in Detroit started with promise but quickly unraveled. He played just 36 games in 2022 and didn’t hit a single home run.
On the surface, it looked like a slump. But underneath, Meadows was battling far more than just a cold bat.
A series of physical setbacks - including COVID, vertigo, and an Achilles injury - derailed his season. And by the end of that year, he made the difficult but courageous decision to step away from the game to focus on his mental health.
The Tigers stood by him, hoping 2023 would bring a fresh start. But the struggles persisted, both at the plate and off the field.
Despite efforts to find answers, Meadows never quite found his rhythm again. Eventually, Detroit made the tough call to non-tender him this past offseason, making him a free agent and, effectively, bringing his time with the team - and possibly his MLB career - to a close.
This week, Meadows gave fans an honest and heartfelt update on Instagram. He acknowledged the difficulty of being away from the game he loves, but also shared that he’s making real progress in his mental health journey.
He opened up about being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and OCD, and about learning to accept the things he can’t control. Most importantly, he emphasized the value of seeking help and the strength that comes with vulnerability.
That’s a message that stretches far beyond the diamond.
For all the hype, stats, and expectations that come with being a professional athlete, Meadows’ story is a reminder that players are human first. His willingness to speak openly about his mental health - in a sport that often praises toughness and silence - is not just admirable, it’s necessary. It gives voice to others who may be struggling in silence, whether they wear a uniform or not.
Whatever the future holds for Austin Meadows in baseball, his legacy now includes something much more meaningful than home runs or All-Star appearances. He’s become a symbol of strength in the face of personal struggle - and that’s something worth celebrating.
Because at the end of the day, the most important victories don’t always show up in the box score.