Former Houston Astros pitching prospect Ronny Garcia, 24, and his father tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident in their native Dominican Republic on Friday. The accident occurred on the Las Galeras-Samaná highway in Samaná, involving two motorcycles.
Garcia had become a free agent after the 2023 season and signed with the independent York Revolution in February. During his eight years in the Astros organization, he made 122 minor league appearances, primarily as a reliever, posting a 9-15 record and a 3.42 ERA. Last season, Garcia achieved his highest level of play, reaching the advanced Class-A level. He pitched for the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists, where he went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 29 appearances, striking out 40 batters in 34.2 innings.
Garcia’s untimely demise is a sad reminder of the string of automobile accidents that have taken the lives of several prominent Dominican players in recent years. The Dominican Republic has a high rate of traffic事故s, ranking as the deadliest country in the western hemisphere for auto accident fatalities per capita. Despite efforts to educate young Latin American drivers about safe driving, the issue remains prevalent.
