New York Times

 

 

WILMER FLORES had an eventful week.

 

At its peak, he hit a game-winning home run in the last inning to beat the then-division-leading Washington Nationals.

 

 

After three billion miles and nearly 10 years of travel, the New Horizons spacecraft has finally flown by Pluto. When it first left Earth, I was wrapping up 15 seasons of professional baseball, completing my fight to hold on to my job and health, as the next generation of players ushered aging veterans out of the game.

 

 

It was an honor, during the off-season, to have been interviewed for a job as a big-league manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. I wasn’t chosen to run their show, so I elected to develop my managerial chops another way. And while I won’t have the luxury of having the Rays’ star third baseman, Evan Longoria, in my lineup, who knows? I may have the future Evan Longoria.

 

I’m coaching my kids’ T-ball team.