Mike Hazen, general manager of the Diamondbacks, is feeling down about the World Series.

In the summer of 2020, Nicole, the longtime baseball executive’s wife, received a diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Nicole, who fought the illness for two years, died in August 2022 at the age of 45. She was survived by Mike and their four sons.

Nicole’s memory has been a presence throughout the Diamondbacks’ stunning postseason run that has led them to a World Series matchup with the Rangers, which starts

Before the Diamondbacks finished sweeping the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS at Chase Field, Mike and Nicole’s four teenage boys, Charlie, John, Teddy, and Sam, threw out the opening pitch.

“It has taken a while. Hazen acknowledged, “A lot of stuff has happened,” following Arizona’s September 30 playoff berth. For me, there is a person who is not present but was present six years ago and was an avid Diamondbacks supporter. Was a big admirer of Merrill Kelly. She loved him as a player.

While Nicole battled her sickness in 2021, Mike was given permission to take a leave of absence.

Arizona front office assistants Amiel Sawdaye and Mike Fitzgerald picked up when Hazen had more important priorities, the Washington Post recently reported.

And his best friend, manager Torey Lovullo, and his wife Kristen provided unending support.

“I don’t know how to express that gratitude to them ever,” Hazen said, per ESPN. “I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know. I’ll never be able to say anything other than ‘thank you.’ A billion times.”

Hazen, according to the Washington Post, met his wife out in Boston while celebrating the Patriots’ playoff victory over the Raiders in the the 2002 Tuck Rule game.