It comes to a conclusion. It consistently concludes. And it rarely concludes positively. On certain occasions, it pertains to a competitive team. On other occasions, it involves a school team. Those fortunate few continue participating in recreational activities until their later years and at times receive significant compensation for it. Yet, even in those scenarios, there persists a hint of sorrow when the inevitable conclusion approaches.

Maybe this isn’t it for DJ LeMahieu, who on Wednesday received the most dreaded three-letter diagnosis a baseball player can get: DFA. Designated for assignment. Maybe there will be teams willing to make a deal with the Yankees in the next 10 days. Maybe they’ll wait until he becomes a free agent. 

Maybe there’s even some hits left in his bat. There already have been 1,772 of them, scattered across a 15-year career. That is tied for 431st on the all-time list, and if that doesn’t necessarily jump off the page at you, consider these two facts: 

1. The other man at 431 is Shoeless Joe Jackson.