Sad news has rocked the baseball community with the unexpected passing of a former player.
Former MLB pitcher Odalis Perez passed away at the age of 44 at his residence in the Dominican Republic. According to ESPN’s Enrique Rojas, Perez is believed to have fallen from a ladder, pending confirmation from the medical examiner.
Perez started his MLB career in 1998 with the Atlanta Braves and later moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2001, making his way to the All-Star Game in the following year. Throughout 32 career starts, Perez achieved a 15-10 record with a 3.00 ERA.
In 2006, Perez was traded to the Kansas City Royals by the Dodgers. Subsequently, he signed with the Washington Nationals on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training in 2008.
The 2008 season marked Perez’s final year in the league, as he was let go the following year for not attending spring training. Perez wrapped up his career with a 73-82 record in 252 games (221 starts), tallying 920 strikeouts and a 4.46 ERA.
