Cardinals' Oscar Taveras dies in car crash
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.
The 22-year-old's death was confirmed by the team in a statement.
"We are all stunned and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of the youngest members of the Cardinals family," Cardinals chairman Blake DeWitt Jr. said. "Oscar was an amazing talent with a bright future who was taken from us well before his time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight."
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak offered his condolences to Taveras's family, as well.
"I simply can't believe it," Mozeliak said. "I first met Oscar when he was 16 years old and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest."
Dionisio Soldevila of ESPN Deportes reports that Taveras's girlfriend, 18-year-old Edilia Arvelo, was also killed in the accident.
Taveras was rated as the sport's No. 3 prospect by Baseball America heading into the season and was widely regarded as one of the game's brightest young stars.
Many players around Major League Baseball took to Twitter after learning of the news, including teammate Kolten Wong.
Wow! My heart truly hurts to hear the passing of Oscar! I've played with him every year and we truly lost a great person! #RIPOscarTaveras
— Kolten Wong (@KoltenWong) October 27, 2014
Fox Sports reporter Erin Andrews tweeted that the news made its way to the dugouts during Game 5 of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals.
Several Giants players have come over to my TV in dugout when heard news abt Taveras..Juan Perez in tears in dugout..
— Erin Andrews (@ErinAndrews) October 27, 2014
The Dominican native made his major league debut as a 21-year-old in May, and hit .239 with three homers in 80 games. Taveras made the Cardinals' postseason roster and delivered the biggest hit of his young career in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Entering as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, Taveras hit a game-tying homer off Giants reliever Jean Machi.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
St. Louis signed Taveras as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2008.
He was selected to baseball's top minor league showcase, The Futures Game, in both 2012 and 2013.