Yoervis Medina, a former pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs, died at 37 following a heart attack that caused him to crash his car in Venezuela. The incident occurred on Thursday night, and his death was confirmed by multiple news sources on Saturday.
The tragic event took place in Naguanagua, Venezuela, where Medina suffered a heart attack while driving his vehicle at the Via Veneto Shopping Center. This led to a collision with several parked cars, but fortunately, no other injuries were reported in the crash.
Authorities in Venezuela provided preliminary reports indicating that the heart attack was the cause of the accident. Medina, a native of Venezuela, was pronounced dead at the scene, bringing a sudden end to his life at the young age of 37.
In response to his passing, the Seattle Mariners, with whom Medina spent parts of three Major League seasons, released a statement on social media expressing their sadness. ‘We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Mariners pitcher Yoervis Medina. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends,’ the team said on X.
Medina’s professional baseball career began when he signed with the Mariners as an amateur free agent in 2005. He spent seven years developing in their minor league system before making his MLB debut in 2013, where he quickly became a reliable reliever.
During his time with the Mariners from 2013 to 2015, Medina appeared in 141 games, recording an impressive 2.82 ERA and 147 strikeouts. His performance showcased his talent as a right-handed pitcher, contributing significantly to the team’s bullpen.
In the middle of the 2015 season, Medina was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Welington Castillo. He pitched in only five games for the Cubs that year and also spent time with their Triple-A affiliate before being claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, though he never played in the majors for them.
After his stint in affiliated baseball ended in 2016 with the Phillies’ rookie ball team, Medina continued his career internationally. He most recently played in 2023 for Tecnograniti Senago in Italy, demonstrating his enduring passion for the game.
Medina’s untimely death has shocked the baseball community, highlighting the unpredictability of health issues even in young athletes. His legacy as a dedicated player who overcame challenges to reach the majors will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike.