The Cardinals received shocking news Sunday evening, learning Oscar Taveras was killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic.
Details on the accident have yet to be released, but his death was confirmed around 7:30 PM. Taveras was scheduled to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic before returning to Jupiter, Florida for spring training where he was expected to compete for the starting spot in right field.
The Cardinals had expected the young talent to work on his defense and conditioning in the offseason, rounding out his game.
“I think he can be a star, and I think he showed some things all season long that proved that,” Mike Matheny said in a season wrap-up press conference on October 20.
Considered one of the top prospects in baseball, the left-handed outfielder had recently flashed his star potential when he tied Game 2 of the NLCS with a pinch-hit homer.
He was 22.