Reyes Moronta, a former MLB reliever who last appeared in the majors during the previous season, has tragically passed away, according to an announcement by the Mexican League’s Bravos de León.
According to reports, Moronta lost his life in a tragic traffic accident.
Moronta, who played for the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Angels over six seasons, was only 31 years old.
Moronta began his professional career at the age of 17 in September 2010, signing with the Giants out of the Dominican Republic for a $15,000 bonus.
He debuted in the Dominican Summer League the following year, impressing with a 2.13 ERA over 42 1/3 innings.
His stateside debut came the next year, and he gradually progressed through the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with San Francisco in 2017 at 24 years old.
During his initial stint, he posted a solid 2.70 ERA in 6 2/3 innings, striking out an impressive 37.9% of batters.
Moronta’s promising performance secured him a larger role with the Giants in the 2018 season.
Over the next two years, he established himself as a key player in the bullpen, achieving a 2.66 ERA and striking out 29.3% of opponents, despite a higher walk rate of 13.8%.
However, his burgeoning career faced a setback in September 2019 when he underwent surgery for a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
He missed the entire 2020 season recovering from surgery and returned in 2021 at the age of 28.
Unfortunately, an elbow sprain limited him to just four innings that season. Moronta was eventually released by the Giants and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in 2022.
Though not as dominant as before, he still managed a respectable 4.30 ERA over 37 2/3 innings, pitching for both the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks.
Following a non-tender from Arizona, Moronta joined the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal but was released before the season started.
He then signed with the Angels in May, making two MLB appearances before ending the season in Triple-A with a 3.32 ERA over 40 2/3 innings.
This year, Moronta joined the Bravos de León, striking out 24 batters in 19 2/3 innings.
Throughout his MLB career, Moronta compiled a 3.05 ERA in 170 games, amassing 202 strikeouts and three saves.
Our thoughts are with Moronta’s family and loved ones.