The MLB community and its fans are as close-knit as any professional sports league. Therefore when a tragedy strikes it is felt throughout every fan base no matter how hard-fought or bitter rivalry may be.
This list will be going over 10 MLB players who died while still active in the league. Many of these players barely had a chance to continue a lifelong dream of playing baseball professionally.
Tyler Skaggs (1991-2019) – Los Angeles Angels
Age of death: 27
At the age of 20, Skaggs broke out into the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks until being traded to the Angels in the winter of 2013. He would stay with the Angels until his tragic death in 2019.
On July 1, 2019, Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake Texas from a drug overdose. The Angels employee who provided him with the drugs would eventually be sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Jose Fernandez (1992 – 2016) – Miami Marlins
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Age of death: 24
Despite being so young Fernandez was already on top of the baseball world in his four years playing. Two All-Star appearances and a Rookie of the Year award were a glimpse into a bright future.
Of course, as many know on September 25, 2002, he died in a boating accident in Miami after crashing into a jetty. Since his death, no other player has worn the number 16 in honor of Fernandez.
Mike Darr Jr. (1976 – 2002) – San Diego Padres
Age of death: 25
Darr is yet another player taken too soon into such a young career. He spent all three of his major league seasons with the Padres getting more and more playing time every year.
On February 15, 2001, though he would be involved in a fatal car crash in Phoenix, Arizona. This happened just days before many players on the Padres were set to start Spring Training activities.
Joe Kennedy (1979 – 2007) – Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Age of death: 28
Kennedy was a journeyman throughout his career in the majors. His most notable spot and the place where he made his debut was with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays back in 2001. He would bounce around until 2007 but was very valuable everywhere he went.
But on May 24, 2007, he passed away from a heart attack while visiting family in Brandon, Florida. His agent, Damon Lapa, would go on to reveal Kennedy had an enlarged heart which would have played a role in it.
Jose Lima (1972 – 2010) – Houston Astros
Age of death: 37
Lima would have one of the most experienced careers on this list before tragedy would hit. Most notably he had a five-year stint with the Astros where he would be named to an All-Star team and finish fourth in Cy Young voting.
It was on the morning of May 23, 2010, when Lima suffered a heart attack. He would be quickly taken to a hospital in Pasadena, California but had already passed away before he got there.
Luis Valbuena (1985 – 2018) – Chicago Cubs
Age of death: 33
Valbuena had an 11-year career that saw a good amount of success. After all, to play any sport professionally for so long is an impressive feat.
Ultimately it would come to an end on December 6, 2018, after a fatal car crash in his home country of Venezuela. This same crash also took the life of his teammate and friend Jose Castillo who was 37 years old at the time.
Cory Lidle (1972 – 2006) – Philadelphia Phillies
Age of death: 34
Of the seven teams Lidle played for in his nine-year career his longest stint was a three-year period with the Philadelphia Phillies serving as a relief pitcher in the bullpen. He found a successful role in almost every team he was on though.
On October 11, 2006, he was involved in a plane crash. He was one of two people to die when his aircraft crashed into a residential building in New York City.
Dernell Stenson (1978 – 2003) – Cincinnati Reds
Age of death: 25
Stenson is one of the most tragic deaths on this list for multiple reasons. The first is that he barely had time to play in MLB. He appeared in just 37 career games for the Reds before he was ultimately killed on November 5, 2003.
The second reason his death is so tragic is the way it happened. He would be killed after being shot and run over by his own car in what would later be ruled as a homicide.
Miguel Del Toro (1972 – 2001) – San Francisco Giants
Age of death: 29
Miguel’s time in the majors was all too short. He was able to record just 23 total games between 1999 and 2000 for the Giants.
On October 6, 2001, he was a part of a fatal car crash in his home country of Mexico. His car collided with a tractor that took his own life and two other passengers in the car.
Darryl Kile (1968 – 2002) – Houston Astros
Age of death: 33
Kile had a successful 12-year career while playing in the majors. His longest stint was with the Astros for seven years and he would even be named to three All-Star games throughout his career.
Unfortunately on June 22, 2002, before he could end his career on his own terms he passed away from a heart attack he had during his sleep.
