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Cardinals’ Oscar Taveras dies in car accident Cardinals’ Oscar Taveras dies in car accident
(about 14 hours later)
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, one of the most promising pieces of the organization’s future, was killed Sunday in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, his agent confirmed in a text message Sunday night.St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, one of the most promising pieces of the organization’s future, was killed Sunday in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, his agent confirmed in a text message Sunday night.
Taveras, 22, headed into the winter on the high of hitting a key home run in the Cardinals’ victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Brian Mejia, Taveras’s agent, said he did not yet know details of the accident. Taveras’s girlfriend also died.Taveras, 22, headed into the winter on the high of hitting a key home run in the Cardinals’ victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Brian Mejia, Taveras’s agent, said he did not yet know details of the accident. Taveras’s girlfriend also died.
[More about Taveras’s rise through the Cardinals’ system]
Taveras debuted with the Cardinals this summer, playing 80 games and hitting .239 with three homers and 22 RBI. His presence, along with that of fellow rookie Randal Grichuk, gave St. Louis the flexibility to deal away veteran Allen Craig at the trade deadline as part of a package for right-hander John Lackey.Taveras debuted with the Cardinals this summer, playing 80 games and hitting .239 with three homers and 22 RBI. His presence, along with that of fellow rookie Randal Grichuk, gave St. Louis the flexibility to deal away veteran Allen Craig at the trade deadline as part of a package for right-hander John Lackey.
Though he still had adjustments to make at the major league level, Taveras had blown through the Cardinals’ system after signing in 2008. In six minor league seasons, he hit .320 with a .376 on-base percentage and a .516 slugging percentage.Though he still had adjustments to make at the major league level, Taveras had blown through the Cardinals’ system after signing in 2008. In six minor league seasons, he hit .320 with a .376 on-base percentage and a .516 slugging percentage.
The Cardinals did not immediately send out a statement Sunday night as they tried to collect information on the accident, but Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement later in the evening.The Cardinals did not immediately send out a statement Sunday night as they tried to collect information on the accident, but Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement later in the evening.
“All of us throughout Major League Baseball are in mourning this evening, shocked by the heartbreaking news of the accident involving Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend in the Dominican Republic,” Selig said. “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.”“All of us throughout Major League Baseball are in mourning this evening, shocked by the heartbreaking news of the accident involving Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend in the Dominican Republic,” Selig said. “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.”
Added Tony Clark, the executive director for the MLB Players Association: “We are very saddened to learn of the news that a car accident has claimed the life of Oscar Tavares and his girlfriend in the Dominican Republic. Oscar had a very promising future, on and off the field, and this news is heartbreaking on many levels. It’s never easy to lose a member of our fraternity, and to lose one so young is devastating news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of both, as well as to the St. Louis Cardinals organization and Oscar’s many fans in the United States and the Dominican Republic.”Added Tony Clark, the executive director for the MLB Players Association: “We are very saddened to learn of the news that a car accident has claimed the life of Oscar Tavares and his girlfriend in the Dominican Republic. Oscar had a very promising future, on and off the field, and this news is heartbreaking on many levels. It’s never easy to lose a member of our fraternity, and to lose one so young is devastating news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of both, as well as to the St. Louis Cardinals organization and Oscar’s many fans in the United States and the Dominican Republic.”