Another baseball player has died after a car accident in the Dominican Republic
For the third time this year, a baseball player has died after a car accident in the Dominican Republic.
Miguel Gonzalez, a 21-year-old minor leaguer in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization, died Monday from injuries sustained Saturday night in an auto accident. Earlier this year, Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former big leaguer Andy Marte died on the same day in unrelated accidents in the Dominican Republic. Young St. Louis Cardinals star Oscar Tavares also died in a car accident in 2014.
[Now’s the time to sign up for Fantasy Football! Join for free]
Gonzalez was signed as an international free agent and pitched with the Orioles’ Dominican Summer League club the past three seasons. Here’s the team’s announcement about Gonzalez’s death:
Statement on the death of Orioles minor league pitcher Miguel Gonzalez: pic.twitter.com/G6JhedDKCP
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 18, 2017
In 38 appearances, Gonzalez had a 7.65 ERA, though he had his best season this past summer, with opponents hitting almost 50 points lower against him than last summer.
The Dominican Republic is known as one of the most dangerous places to drive in the world. Three baseball players dying in nine months is an example of the larger problem. According to the World Health Organization, the Dominican Republic averages 29.3 auto accident fatalities annually per 100,000 residents.
– – – – – –
Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
More from Yahoo Sports:
• Fans prove the NFL made a big mistake moving to Los Angeles
• Pat Forde: College football coaches on the hot seat, along with ADs
• Chiefs’ star could be first player fined under new NFL rules
• Jeff Passan: The American League is about to descend into chaos