Those who have chronicled Jesse Chavez's repeated stints with the Atlanta Braves were wincing every time he took the mound in 2025. Chavez hasn't been exactly blowing guys away in recent years, but the 41 year-old reliever very much looked his age and, despite multiple chances with the Braves, it just didn't seem like he had it anymore.
After deciding to come back for one more season in 2025, the expectation was that, this time, Chavez would retire after the season for sure and the end was coming soon.
We just didn't realize how soon that news would come.