Former MLB Pitcher Dies Suddenly at 31

Former MLB pitcher Reyes Moronta has died at 31, reported The New York Post and the Dominican outlet El Pregonero. Mortana died in a “driving accident” in the Dominican Republic on Saturday.

MLB insider Hector Gomez reported that Moronta was driving a four-wheeler back to his home in the Quinigua neighborhood near Santiago de los Caballeros. He shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) of a four-wheeler overturned on its side.

Moronta pitched for four MLB teams over the course of six years. He was drafted onto the Bravos de León of the Mexican League in May before being released in July. He had most recently acquired by the Aguilas Cibaeñas.

“We deeply regret the departure of Reyes Moronta. We wish family and friends a quick resignation to this news,” Bravos de León wrote in a statement posted to X. “A hug to heaven.”

In a separate post, the Mexican Baseball League honored Moronta, saying that it “deeply regrets the death of former player Reyes Moronta. We join in the grief that overwhelms his family, friends, and former colleagues. Rest in peace.”

Moronta played 177 games with the MLB, going 10-11 with a 3.05 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 171 1/3 innings. He served as the right-handed relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Arizona Diamondbacks during his major league tenure before playing two games with the Angels in 2023.