Former Mariners and Cubs pitcher Yoervis Medina has died at 37 years old, Seattle confirmed.
Medina, a native of Venezuela, suffered a heart attack while driving that ultimately led to a car crash, according to local media reports in the country.
Radio America in Venezuela reported that the incident occurred Thursday night in the municipality of Naguanagua and that Medina crashed into several parked vehicles after suffering a heart attack.
The Mariners, with whom Medina spent parts of three Major League seasons, posted a statement on social media upon learning of his death.
“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 statement read.
“Sad news coming out of Venezuela, former AquaSox pitcher Yoervis Medina (2010) has passed away at the age of 37,” the Everett AquaSox, the Mariners’ High-A minor league affiliate, posted in a statement to X. “He pitched in the Major Leagues between 2013 and 2015. RIP.”
Medina initially signed with Seattle as an amateur free agent in 2005 and spent seven seasons in the Mariners’ organization before being called up to the big leagues midway through the 2013 season.
During his time with Seattle, the righty posted a 2.82 ERA with 147 strikeouts across 141 appearances for the club from 2013-15.
Midway through the 2015 season, the Mariners traded Medina to the Cubs for catcher Welington Castillo.
Medina pitched in just five games with Chicago while also spending time with their Triple-A affiliate that season.
He was later selected off waivers by the Pirates the following offseason, but failed to reach the majors with them.
Medina’s final appearance in affiliated baseball was a brief stint on the Phillies’ rookie ball squad in 2016.
He most recently played professional baseball in 2023 with the Tecnograniti Senago in Italy.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
