Luis Valbuena, José Castillo killed in car accident
Major League Baseball announced late Thursday night that Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car accident in Venezuela.
Major League Baseball announced Thursday night that former Angels infielder Luis Valbuena and former Pirates infielder Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash in Venezuela.
According to a (translated) column by BeisbolPlay’s Carlos Valmore Rodriguez and Andriw Sanchez Ruiz, the pair had been travelling between games in the Venezuelan Winter League at the time of the crash. Another former major leaguer, Carlos Rivero, was also involved in the crash, but survived the accident, according to the same reports. Rivero was, according to Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic, the driver of the vehicle.
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Valbuena, 33, had been one of baseball’s most adored and fun figures, known primarily for his smile and his affection for his teammates and fans. He played a total of 1011 major league games with the Angels, Astros, Cubs, Indians, and Mariners. He had turned 33 last week.
Of Valbuena, Tim Mead, the Angels’ Vice President of Communications, tweeted that: “Every day, every single day he had a smile on his face, happiness in his heart & a genuine interest in making others feel the same. He treated everyone with respect, sincerity,and his wonderful gift of humor. Every day, every single day.”
Castillo, 37, played for the Giants, Pirates, Astros, and Nationals, while also playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines and Yokohama BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He tallied 592 major league games from 2004 to 2008.
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Many former teammates of both men, including Michael Hermosillo and Tony Campana, joined the baseball world in honouring the lives of these two spectacular ballplayers. The Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations also tweeted regarding this tragic event.
Call to the Pen joins the baseball community in mourning the loss of these two players, expressing our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and teammates.