Former Major League Baseball pitcher Reyes Moronta reportedly died at the age of 31 in an ATV accident in the Dominican Republic.
The Mexican Baseball League and the Bravos de Leon, Moronta’s club until his release July 25, confirmed the athlete’s death on social media Monday. “The Mexican Baseball League deeply regrets the death of former player Reyes Moronta,” they wrote in a caption translated to English. “We join in the grief that overwhelms his family, friends and former colleagues. Rest in peace,” the post said.
La Liga Mexicana de Beisbol lamenta profundamente el fallecimiento del ex jugador Reyes Moronta.
Nos unimos a la pena que embarga a su familia, amigos y ex compañeros
Descanse en paz pic.twitter.com/1VeWXf52g8
— Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (@LigaMexBeis) July 29, 2024
Reports from local news outlets reported that Moronta suffered fatal injuries when he was involved in a traffic accident while he was driving a 4-wheeler at his father’s home in Villa Gonzalez.
MLB Insider Hector Gomez shared a photo from the alleged incident to X, alongside the message, “according to a person very close to the late pitcher Reyes Moronta, he had an accident arriving home while driving this four wheel.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: Reyes Moronta #59 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park on October 01, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The talented right-handed pitcher was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2010, when he was juts 17 years old. He made his MLB debut in 2017 and played 136 games with the team. He later signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and pitched for the Diamondbacks and Angels. His final MLB appearance was 2023, according to TMZ.
Moronta had a 10-11 record on the mound and earned a 3.05 ERA and 202 strikeouts.
The player community was shocked and saddened to learn of Reyes Moronta’s death in a traffic accident Sunday. We send our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends in his native Dominican Republic and throughout the game. pic.twitter.com/UdMB81Eru8
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) July 29, 2024
The famous pitcher moved away from the MLB to jointhe Mexican Baseball League’s Diablos Rojos del Mexico and the Bravos de Leon. He was acquired by the Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League just before his death.
The MLBPA took to X, July 29 to pay tribute to Moronta.
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 04: Reyes Moronta #56 of the Texas Rangers delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 4, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)
“The player community was shocked and saddened to learn of Reyes Moronta’s death in a traffic accident Sunday,” they wrote “We send our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends in his native Dominican Republic and throughout the game.”(RELATED: NBA Hall-Of-Famer Alonzo Mourning Has Prostate-Removal Surgery After Cancer Diagnosis)
Details surrounding the ATV crash and the circumstances that led to the accident are not known at this time.
