Former Major League Baseball relief pitcher Reyes Moronta was killed in a four-wheel-drive accident in his native Dominican Republic.
The 31-year-old’s death was confirmed by his Mexican League team, the Bravos de León. Local reports claim he was riding near his father’s house in the Quinigua neighborhood in Santiago province.
Moronta, whose fastball had been clocked at 100 mph, had recently been acquired by the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican league.
The son of a truck driver father and a cigar-making mother, Moronta grew up in a small town north of Santiago and attended high school in nearby Villa González, home of veteran New York Mets shortstop José Reyes.
‘We deeply regret the departure of Reyes Moronta,’ reads a translated post from X de los Bravos de León. ‘We wish family and friends a quick resignation to this news.
Reyes Moronta (45) pitches during a game between the Brewers and the Dodgers in 2022
Moronta pitches during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in 2018
‘A hug to heaven.’
Standing less than six feet tall and weighing more than 260 pounds, Moronta was signed to a minor league contract by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 for just $15,000.
But it wouldn’t be until 2017 when he would finally reach the Major Leagues, posting an impressive ERA below 3.00 in each of his first four seasons.
Despite his success, Moronta was forced to sign with the Diablos Rojos of the Mexican League in 2022, until the Los Angeles Dodgers gave him an invitation to spring training.
The remainder of Moronta’s career was spent bouncing between Los Angeles and the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers before a few more seasons in the Mexican League and 1.1 innings of relief with the Anaheim Angels in 2023.
Over six MLB seasons, Moronta posted an impressive ERA of just 3.05.
