Tyler Zombro, the former Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher who suffered a serious head injury when he was hit by a comebacker during a Triple-A game in 2021, said Friday that his playing career is over.

In a series of social media posts, Zombro, 28, said he has been struggling with “ongoing nerve issues” since his injury, making it difficult for him to play, and that he will instead focus all of his attention on “helping others instead of helping myself.”

This is a post I’ve been dreading…but it’s time. The last 3+ years of my playing career have been difficult as I’ve constantly struggled with nerve issues since my head injury in 2021. I get more joy from helping others than helping myself and now it’s time to do that full time. pic.twitter.com/3PzNrkuXtK

— Tyler Zombro (@T_Zombro24) 23 August 2024

Zombro, a right-handed reliever, was pitching for Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate in Durham, North Carolina, when he was hit by a 104 mph line drive up the middle during a game in June 2021. The ball struck him on the right side of the head, just above the ear, and he was unconscious before hitting the ground.

He was taken to Duke University Hospital, where doctors inserted 16 plates and 32 screws into his head. He remained in the hospital for about a week before being released.

The fractures eventually healed and Zombro was cleared to pitch again. He returned to action in a game for the Bulls on April 24, 2022, one of two appearances he made for them that year.

He was released by Durham in 2023, accepted a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers two months later and played two games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express, last year.

He hadn’t pitched yet this year.

“I can’t stress enough how much joy my career as a professional player has brought me,” Zombro wrote. “Thank you for believing in me @RaysBaseball & @Rangers. An even bigger thank you to my teammates, coaches, medical staff, club members, etc. The relationships are far more important than any performance on the field.”

“Although I never achieved my ‘ultimate’ dream, the obstacles I/we had to overcome helped me change my perspective on life and appreciate where I am. In the grand scheme of life, amidst so many macro issues, quitting playing is not the end of the world.”

Zombro was a college pitcher at George Mason before signing with the Rays as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He has a 3.18 ERA this season and a 2.79 ERA in his career in the minors.