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Orioles prospect Luis Guevara died at the age of 19 following a jet ski crash in Sarasota, Fla., the organization announced Tuesday.
Guevera was involved in a head-on crash between two water vehicles around 8 p.m. Sunday off Lido Key in Florida that included four people, with two being sent to the hospital, The Baltimore Sun reported via details from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Orioles said in a statement they are “heartbroken,” and the franchise reportedly postponed scheduled Florida Complex League (FCL) games Monday and Tuesday.
“Luis was a beloved member of our organization, and we are devastated following his tragic passing,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates and we ask for their continued privacy during this difficult time.”
The four-person accident involved two jet skis colliding, with each carrying two people, and all four individuals fell into the water, per the Baltimore Sun.
Those in the area helped those involved out of the water and to shore, with the pair on one jet ski reportedly suffering minor injuries and the two on the other being hospitalized.
At least one more Orioles prospect was part of the collision, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Guevara, a native of Tinaco, Venezuela, signed with the Orioles as an international free agent in 2023.
He made his minor-league debut this year, playing 30 games for three different teams and peaking with the organization’s Double-A squad.
Guevara slashed a cumulative .235/.380/.318 for a .697 OPS and tallied 11 RBIs and eight steals.
He primarily played shortstop and third base, while also manning second base and left field.
Guevara spent the majority of his time with Single-A Delmarva, posting a slash line of .243/.382/.314 with 13 walks in 91 plate appearances.
He also appeared in four games with the organization’s rookie league team and just a pair of contest with Double-A Chesapeake.
He last played Saturday for the FCL Orioles, going 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Guevara also played for the Orioles’ Dominican Summer League (DSL) team from 2023-24, and he posted a .786 OPS while hitting .297 with a .434 on-base percentage and a .351 slugging percentage.
He tallied 38 RBIs in 84 games in the DSL.
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