Former Major League Baseball relief pitcher Yoervis Medina died this week after suffering a heart attack while driving, which led to a car crash in his native Venezuela. He was 37.
According to Radio America in Venezuela, authorities received a call from outside the Veneto Shopping Center, where a driver had reportedly crashed into several parked vehicles in the area. Upon arrival, rescue personnel from the municipality of Naguanagua discovered Medina “without vital signs.”
Preliminary reports say the Puerto Cabello, Venezuela native had a heart attack behind the wheel which caused the accident.
Medina found success at the major league level
Medina spent parts of three MLB seasons with the Seattle Mariners from 2013-15. He also appeared in five games for the Chicago Cubs in 2015.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Mariners pitcher Yoervis Medina,” the Mariners said in a statement Friday night. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
Medina made his MLB debut on April 16, 2013, throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief against the Detroit Tigers with three strikeouts. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound hurler appeared in 63 games as a rookie, pitching to a 4-6 record with a 2.91 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 68 innings.
Medina turned in another solid season in 2014, going 5-3 with a 2.68 ERA in 66 appearances. He then pitched in 12 games for the Mariners and five for the Cubs in 2015.
While Medina never returned to the big leagues, he did pitch professionally in Venezuela through the 2023 season.
Mariners still mourning another recent loss
Sadly, Medina is not the only Mariners player from his era to pass away in Venezuela recently. On Oct. 4, Jesus Montero, who played for Seattle from 2012-15, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident in Valencia.
Montero died two weeks later from his injuries, which included “multiple leg fractures, several broken ribs, and significant lung and organ damage.” He was only 35 years old.
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, where Montero played after his MLB career was over, paid tribute to him on social media.
“Today, Venezuelan baseball is in mourning. Jesús Montero, a former New York Yankees prospect with five years of experience in the Major Leagues and six seasons in the LVBP with Navegantes del Magallanes, Cardenales de Lara, and Águilas del Zulia, passed away in Valencia,” the league said in a statement confirming the sad news.
“Thank you for every at-bat, for every home run, for every day you proudly defended our colors.”
