Former Houston Astros pitching prospect Ronny Garcia, 24, and his father were killed in a traffic accident in their native Domincan Republic on Friday. Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital was first to report the news. The Houston Astros confirmed it on their official Twitter/X account Saturday:
Yahoo Sports reported the accident involved two motorcycles on the Las Galeras-Samaná highway in Samaná, Dominican Republic.
Garcia became a free agent after last season, his eighth in the Astros organization, and signed with the independent York Revolution in February. In 122 minor league games, mostly as a reliever, Garcia went 9-15 with a 3.42 ERA.
Last season, Garcia topped out at the advanced Class-A level for the first time. He went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 29 appearances for the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists, striking out 40 batters in 34.2 innings. He began last season with the Class-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers before earning the promotion.
The Tourists and Woodpeckers posted remembrances to their official Twitter/X accounts in response to Garcia’s death:
We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Tourists pitcher, Ronny Garcia. Ronny pitched for the Tourists during the 2023 season. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/FlFLSFPlWU
— Asheville Tourists (@GoTourists) April 20, 2024
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Ronny Garcia. Ronny spent parts of three seasons with Fayetteville, always carrying a smile around the ballpark.
He was a talented pitcher and a beloved teammate. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/6LalISRROT
— Fayetteville Woodpeckers (@WoodpeckersNC) April 20, 2024
The York Revolution were planning on using Garcia as a versatile relief pitcher, according to manager Rick Forney in a recent interview.
“He’ll be a young bullpen arm for us,” Forney told ABC27. “I’m excited about him. He has really good career numbers. He’s an intriguing young pitcher. I’m hoping I can get him to be more than just a one-inning guy, maybe a bridge-type guy in the sixth or seventh inning. I’m excited to get my eyes on him.”
Sadly, Garcia’s death is the latest in a string of automobile accidents that has claimed the lives of prominent Dominican players over the last decade. Highly touted St. Louis Cardinals prospect Oscar Taveras was a major league rookie when he was killed in a 2014 crash at age 22. Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and journeyman infielder Andy Marte both died in separate accidents on the same day in 2017.
An article in the Chicago Tribune noted that while teams try to educate their young Latin American drivers about safe driving,
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