SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (CBSNewYork/AP) — Oscar Taveras, the St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder regarded as one of the majors’ top prospects, died Sunday in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was 22.
Taveras was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro at the time of the crash on a highway between the beaches of Sosua and Cabarete in Puerto Plata, about 215 miles north of the capital of Santo Domingo, said Col. Diego Pesqueira of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency.
“He wasn’t carrying documents at the time of the accident, but his body was identified by family members,” Pesqueira said.
National police spokesman Jacobo Mateo Moquete said he was told by the mayor of Sosua that Taveras lost control of his vehicle and went off the road. Edilia Arvelo, 18, who was in the car with Taveras, also died in the accident, Pesqueira said.
Taveras made his major league debut this year. He hit .239 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 80 games for the NL Central champions.
“I simply can’t believe it,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said in a release. “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.”
"Thanks for being a Cardinal." Message on baseball at #OscarTaveras memorial outside Busch Stadium. pic.twitter.com/KYfXmtYwOU
— Ryan Dean (@RyanDeanKSDK) October 27, 2014
Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said the organization was “stunned and deeply saddened.”
“Oscar was an amazing talent with a bright future who was taken from us well before his time,” DeWitt said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight.”
From @LigaDomcom: Players from Dominican winter ball teams Licey and Aguilas embrace in prayer for Oscar Taveras. pic.twitter.com/d8QAFNxkZP
— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) October 27, 2014
Taveras was a teenager when he signed with St. Louis as an international free agent in 2008. Before this season, Taveras was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America, and had a.321 average over six minor league seasons.
He homered against the Giants’ Yusmeiro Petit in his major league debut May 31. He also had a big solo drive in the seventh inning of Game 2 in the NL Championship Series against San Francisco.
“All of us throughout Major League Baseball are in mourning this evening,” baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. “Oscar, a young member of the baseball family, was full of promise and at the dawn of a wonderful career in our game, evident in his game-tying home run against the Giants exactly two weeks ago.”
We mourn the passing of Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras. http://t.co/fCuSK3nB9n pic.twitter.com/0USk5vzaXF
— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2014
It looked as if Taveras was headed to the majors in 2013, but he had surgery for a high right ankle sprain last August for an injury that did not respond to treatment. He then got off to a nice start at Triple-A Memphis this season, earning a promotion by batting .325 with seven homers in 49 games.
“Oscar had a very promising future, on and off the field, and this news is heartbreaking on many levels,” Tony Clark, the leader of the players’ association, said in a statement. “It’s never easy to lose a member of our fraternity, and to lose one so young is devastating news.”
Giants outfielder Juan Perez heard about Taveras’ death during Game 5 of the World Series. He hit a two-run double in the eighth inning of San Francisco’s 5-0 victory and dedicated the hit to his fallen countryman.
“He’s a really close friend of mine,” Perez said. “I know his family pretty good, I know his mom, his dad, his brothers, we were really close. It’s a huge loss for all his family, his teammates and the people that care about him.”
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
Several of Taveras’ Cardinals teammates took to Twitter to express their condolences.
“Last 30 minutes I’ve been sick to my stomach. Keep thinking about Oscar’s big smile in the dugout whenever we made a big play/got a big hit,” All-Star reliever Pat Neshek posted.
Oscar was the last teammate I saw in St. L.
— Pat Neshek (@PatNeshek) October 27, 2014
I joked with him since our apartments were next to each other about how he could fit nearly 12 dozen bats in his car.
— Pat Neshek (@PatNeshek) October 27, 2014
Rookie second baseman Kolten Wong tweeted: “RIP you will be missed buddy.”
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
Absolute Tragedy.. My prayers go out to Oscar Taveras family.
— Matt Carpenter (@MattCarp13) October 27, 2014
So sad to hear about Oscar. My prayers go out to his family. In complete shock.. So sad.. Life isn't fair
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) October 27, 2014
Messages were also posted from teams and players around the league.
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Oscar Taveras and the entire @Cardinals organization.
— New York Mets (@Mets) October 27, 2014
Baseball lost a promising young star today! Thoughts and prayers! RIP OSCAR TAVERAS
— Joba Chamberlain (@Joba_44) October 27, 2014
Shocked to hear about @Cardinals OF Oscar Taveras and girlfriend…Praying for their family and friends.
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) October 27, 2014
R.I.P. Oscar Taveras.. Nos deja un tremendo talento que apena epesaba a florecer… Que Dios te tenga… http://t.co/OGz5UvfDks
— Carlos Gomez (@C_Gomez27) October 27, 2014
Deeply saddened by the news of Oscar Taveras. Great young talent and truly a tragic ending to a promising story. Praying for his family
— Chris Davis (@CrushD19) October 27, 2014
Life is so Precious! Thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Oscar Taveras..Kid was an absolute stud! #CardinalsNation
— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) October 27, 2014
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