• World
  • Baseball

Mariners Pitching Prospect Victor Sanchez Dies at 20

1 minute read
Victor Sanchez
Seattle Mariners pitcher Victor Sanchez during practice before an Instructional League game on Oct. 4, 2013 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona.Mike Janes—AP
By Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated

Seattle Mariners minor league pitcher Victor Sanchez has died, the team announced on Saturday.

Sanchez was 20 years old. He died from head injuries sustained in a boating accident in Venezuela, his home country, six weeks ago.

“The Seattle Mariners are saddened to learn of the passing of Victor Sanchez,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “Victor was a tremendous young man and a wonderful teammate. He was a very talented player who was close to fulfilling his promise as a Major Leaguer. He will be missed by his teammates, and the coaches and staff at the Mariners.”

According to the team, Sanchez was unconscious in a medically induced coma since the accident and underwent brain surgery after sustaining a double skull fracture and brain hematoma. He had been in critical condition in a hospital.

Sanchez signed with Seattle as an international free agent when he was 16 years old. MLB.com ranked him as the team’s No. 11 prospect last year and he spent the 2014 season at Double-A Jackson, going 7-6 with a 4.19 ERA.

This article originally appeared on SI.com

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com