Houston Astros minor league pitching prospect Jose Rosario was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday night, the club confirmed.
Rosario was 20 years old. The crash happened in the Dominican Republic.
“It is with a heavy heart that we inform the Astros community of the passing of minor league pitcher Jose Rosario, who died last night in his native Dominican Republic,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to Jose’s family, friends and many teammates.”
Rosario had been with the organization since being signed as a minor-league free agent in December 2013. He pitched in both the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League in 2015.
Astros director of international Oz Ocampo also expressed his condolences.
“Jose was a beloved member of the Astros’ Latin American program,” Ocampo began. “He will be remembered as a long, lanky-framed pitcher with tremendous ability, an outgoing personality and an ever-positive disposition. He was a true student of the game and was constantly looking to learn and improve his abilities. He was also a supportive teammate, as he made it a point to encourage his fellow Astros and deliver that message with a smile on his face. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Rosario family.”
