Former Houston Astros prospect Ronny Garcia passed away at the age of 24 after a fatal traffic collision on Saturday.
Garcia lost his life in a collision that also claimed the life of his father, according to MLB reporter Héctor Gómez. The Astros also took to social media to confirm the death of Garcia. The accident occurred on the Las Galeras-Samaná highway in Samaná, involving two motorcycles, Yahoo Sports reported.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Astros prospect, Ronny Garcia.
Our condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/CjoErDe6EC
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 20, 2024
Garcia’s journey with the Astros began in 2016 when he was signed as a 16-year-old international prospect. During his tenure, he competed across several minor leagues, such as the Florida Complex League and Class A. In 122 games, Garcia secured nine wins and 14 saves, striking out 200 batters across 186.2 innings, Yahoo Sports stated. (RELATED: Astros’ Ronel Blanco Throws First No-Hitter Of The Season In Just His 8th Career Start)
Garcia played for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, as well. The team shared their condolences on X, praising his consistent positivity and approachability.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Ronny Garcia. Ronny spent parts of three seasons with Fayetteville, always carrying a smile around the ballpark.
He was a talented pitcher and a beloved teammate. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/6LalISRROT
— Fayetteville Woodpeckers (@WoodpeckersNC) April 20, 2024
He also played for the Asheville Tourists, and made appearances as recently as 2023, according to NBC News.