The promising career of 22-year-old St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Oscar Taveras was tragically cut short Sunday in the Dominican Republic after a car accident claimed his life. His 18-year-old girlfriend Edilia Arvelo was also killed in the crash.
Taveras was considered one of the elite prospects in all of baseball, and he helped the Cardinals win Game 2 of the 2014 NLCS with a home run.
Prior to reaching the major leagues, Taveras was a minor league standout. From 2010 to 2014 Taveras never failed to hit better than .307, showing both power and speed at every stop.
When he was called up to the Cardinals' major league roster, he played right field as well as center field, hitting .239 with three home runs and 22 RBI.
Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. released a statement on behalf of the organization. "We are all stunned and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of the youngest members of the Cardinals family. Oscar was an amazing talent with a bright future who was taken from us well before his time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight."
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak also spoke on the situation. "I simply can't believe it," Mozeliak said. "I first met Oscar when he was sixteen years old and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest."
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