I always wondered what the end game would be for our pro son. Most players don't want to just make it to the Big Leagues. They want to stay there. For him, going back and forth between AAA and MLB, mostly due to injuries, took a toll on him and he was ready to move on to a more stable life. However, he had friends that stuck with it for years after he left. Everyone is different and it's hard to predict how you'll feel about a situation until you're in it.
Many people, including MLB managers, encouraged him to continue the fight. However, he knew he was done. The injuries, travel, time away from his family, performance expectations, public life, etc. just weren't worth it anymore. When he didn't get an invite to Big League Spring Training as a free agent, after another season ending injury, he knew it was time. He had given it everything and was drained, physically and emotionally. Again, he had friends that went through the same thing and hung in there to go on to extended MLB careers. It just wasn't for him.
He's much happier now and more like himself. He genuinely loved the game and the guys, but the rest of the MLB world was very hard for him, especially the entertainment side. The guys that hung in there loved performing in front of huge crowds, media interviews, fan attention, travel, adventure, etc. and were willing to do anything to keep it going. He just wasn't wired that way. He gave it his very best for years and has no regrets. It took as much strength of character to leave as it did to stay. I'm glad he was able to find the courage to follow his heart.