Former Major Leaguer Reyes Moronta Dies at 31 in ATV Accident

Reyes Moronta of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Seattle Mariners in San Francisco on April 3, 2018. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Former Major League Baseball relief pitcher Reyes Moronta has died at the age of 31 following an accident in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.

He reportedly was driving a four-wheeler back to his home in the neighborhood of Quinigua, near Santiago de los Caballeros, when the accident occurred.

The Mexican Baseball League confirmed Mr. Moronta’s death in a social-media post on Monday.

“The Mexican Baseball League deeply regrets the death of former player Reyes Moronta. We join in the grief that overwhelms his family, friends, and former colleagues. Rest in peace,” said the post on X.

Bravos de León, a Mexican League baseball team, posted on X: “We deeply regret the passing of Reyes Moronta. We hope that his family and friends will find a quick solution to this news. A hug from heaven.”

Mr. Moronta’s career spanned six seasons beginning with the San Francisco Giants (2017–2019 and 2021), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2022), the Arizona Diamondbacks (2022), and ending in 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, where he made two brief appearances.

During his years with the Giants, he had a 2.65 earned run average (ERA) in 136 relief appearances.

Mr. Moronta briefly signed with Bravos de León in May 2024. He was released on July 25.

Major League Baseball posted a statement on X saying, “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Reyes Moronta, who pitched for the Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Angels over six seasons. He was 31.”

A post on X from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum said, “The Hall of Fame remembers Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Angels pitcher Reyes Moronta, who passed away Sunday.”

Known for his fastball in the mid to upper 90s, Mr. Moronta established himself as a feared reliever. His ability to get strikeouts was evident from the start. In 2017, during his Major League debut season with the Giants, he racked up 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

He continued to be a reliable reliever for the Giants, maintaining a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio. Mr. Moronta compiled a solid Major League career, posting a 3.05 ERA and striking out 202 batters in 171 ⅓ innings pitched across 177 games.

Injuries derailed his momentum, however. He underwent shoulder surgery in 2020, causing him to miss the entire season. He came back to pitch an inning each in four games for the Giants, compiling a 2.25 ERA.

In 2022, he pitched in 22 games for the Dodgers, with a 4.18 ERA and 27 strikeouts. Also that year, he pitched 17 innings for the Diamondbacks, with a 4.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts.