Jared Porter has it all—the dream job as the general manager of the New York Mets, a 20-year MLB career, and a solid reputation that he has built over time. However, everything changed on January 19, 2021. And it started with a phone call from Steve Cohen, the New York Mets owner. Jared Porter didn’t know it then, but that phone call changed the course of his life.
Porter, who was just hired 38 days earlier, got caught up in a major scandal after a foreign reporter revealed his misbehavior in 2016. Everything, from the text to the infamous photo, was shared with ESPN. And then, it wasn’t long before the Mets, of course, had to take action. They decided to terminate Porter’s contract because there was no other choice.
Now, after years, Porter shared his side of the story. He shared how he is navigating through the Drake Passage of his life.
Porter admitted to USA Today Sports, “I was devastated. I don’t blame them. (Mets) They didn’t have a choice. But I knew I had a choice. One way to let myself sink into the ground and do nothing. Two, I could get angry and take on the world. Or three, I could dive into my mental health.” Porter also revealed that he wanted to get to work and get his life back as soon as possible. However, he made a conscious decision—it was to heal from within. He didn’t want the trauma and the situation to defeat or define him.
And then, even though Porter could barely bring himself to leave his phone in Phoenix after the fiasco, he reached out to his family and close friends. Later, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the place he called home, connected him to their employee assistance program. And so, within days, Porter found himself in The Meadows—an inpatient behavioral health facility in Scottsdale.
Porter recalled how crazy the times were: “It was pretty crazy.” It was a facility where even shoelaces were not allowed for 48 hours because of self-harm risk. But later everything settled, and eventually Porter moved to an outpatient program. Even today, he continues his weekly sessions. And now, he has a bigger purpose in life- something different than MLB.
Jared Porter finds his life purpose after MLB career
So far Porter has come a long way and has grown a lot over the past few years. Now, in fact, he has opened up; he is a different person now. “I’m much more balanced with my feelings and my emotions, and I’m really focused now on helping as many people as I can,” said Porter. He even co-founded Blend, a mental health coaching company that works with MLB, NHL, and other athletes who need help. And this venture is what Porter feels is the silver lining through all the storms he has faced.
Porter said, “I’m grateful for everything that happened to me. If that article had never come out, I never would have gone down this path. It made me wake up.” At the end of the day, Porter understands how difficult it is for athletes to speak up about their struggles. Just recently Jarren Duran shared about his struggles with mental health. How the backlash and the pressure got to him, he shared it all on a Netflix documentary. And Porter applauded the Boston Red Sox outfielder for sharing his story.
Porter said, “In my opinion, a person’s ability to find their pause before they hurt themselves physically or emotionally is the key.” Porter understands how many don’t have the tools to process their emotions and hence turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. So now, he has made it a part of his mission to help others. As for baseball, Porter still loves the game, but for now, his work with Blend is the most rewarding part of his life.
What do you think about this redemption story? Let us know in the comments.
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