MLB free agent infielder Luis Valbuena and former MLB infielder Jose Castillo were killed in a car accident on Thursday night, according to Marcos Grunfield of Univision Sports.
Fuente: Luis Valbuena y José Castillo sufrieron un accidente de tránsito y ambos fallecieron esta noche.
— Marcos Grunfeld 🇮🇱 / Sígueme en YouTube (@TheBeatwriter) December 7, 2018
Former LA Angels infielder Luis Valbuena was killed in a car accident with former Pirates 2B Jose Castillo.
— Marcos Grunfeld 🇮🇱 / Sígueme en YouTube (@TheBeatwriter) December 7, 2018
Valbuena and Castillo were playing for the Lara Cardinales in the Venezuelan Winter League, and Grunfield reports that they were at the stadium earlier in the day.
Estoy completamente en shock. Acabo de ver a Valbuena y Castillo en el estadio. Conozco a Castillo desde hace más de diez años. No tengo palabras. Mi palabras de condolencias @CardenalesDice y a la familia de ambos jugadores.
— Marcos Grunfeld 🇮🇱 / Sígueme en YouTube (@TheBeatwriter) December 7, 2018
Just terrible news.
Valbuena spent 2017-18 with the Los Angeles Angels, and also played for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and Seattle Mariners over his productive 11-year MLB career. He was a fan-favorite and was never afraid to show off an amazing bat flip.
RIP Luis Valbuena, who I’ll choose to remember for being the guy to bat flip anything from a walk to a single to a double to a home run. pic.twitter.com/fwSmx0lNHb
— TOM MARTIN (@TwoCirclesTom) December 7, 2018
There was a time when Luis Valbuena’s bat flips were the only reason to turn on the Cubs. Such awful news. Thanks for the memories, Luis. You’ll be missed. pic.twitter.com/RwyA0zJyBg
— Brad Robinson (@bradrobinson8) December 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/thatdudeTB/status/1070936332375977984
Castillo played in the majors from 2004-2009 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, and Astros. He was the Pirates’ primary second baseman in his first three seasons.
and here’s Jose Castillo making an incredible catch for Pittsburgh. both gone too soon😥 pic.twitter.com/pd9OPhsLBt
— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) December 7, 2018
Here’s Jose Castillo’s triple play #lrt https://t.co/x5Eq3eEjJQ
— McCovey Chronicles (@McCoveyChron) December 7, 2018
Valbuena was 33 and Castillo was 37. RIP.