Major League Baseball fans were stunned earlier this year when former big leaguer Jeremy Giambi took his own life, and now a heartbreaking report gives insight into what he dealt with in his final days.
TMZ obtained a medical examiner’s report this week that suggests that a “freak baseball accident” caused the 47-year-old’s demeanor to change drastically “in the six months leading up to his death.”
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According to the report, Giambi was struck in the head by a baseball while working as a pitching coach and suffered a fractured “zygomatic bone,” which required surgery. The report says that witnesses said that in recovery Giambi was “very emotional, very negative and would let the smallest things ruin his day.”
TMZ said another witness described him as “depressed and paranoid,” following the accident, but that neurologist scans did not show abnormalities. Giambi reportedly took his own life on Feb. 9 at his parents’ home in California.
TMZ reported that lab reports said Giambi did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system.
Giambi is the brother of former All-Star first baseman Jason Giambi. He hit .263 with 52 home runs across six seasons — including an 82-game stint with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002 — in his career.
He also played for the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics.
His final season was 2003 when he played 50 games with Boston.