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The Baltimore Orioles announced this week that infielder Luis Guevara had died following a head-on collision in Sarasota, Florida. News traveled quickly of the watercraft accident here in Sarasota, my hometown, and it came as a shock to many of my fellow locals when the Orioles revealed it was one of their players who had perished in the accident.
The incident occurred on Sunday off Lido Key which is a barrier island of Sarasota, Florida and just a few minutes from downtown. It involved two jet skis which suffered a head-on collision and multiple members of the Baltimore Orioles organization were involved.
Following the accident, the Baltimore Orioles confirmed to local news MySuncoast ABC7 that players were involved in the crash but it wasn’t until Tuesday that the team released a statement saying “the Orioles are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of minor league infielder Luis Guevara.”
The statement continued with a message from Orioles general manager Mike Elias, saying “Luis was a beloved member of our organization, and we are devastated following his tragic passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates, and we ask for their continued privacy during this difficult time.”
Posted to social media, the statement following the tragic death here in Sarasota, Florida also included a list of Luis Guevara’s history with the team:
Baltimore Orioles
The fatal accident occurred when two jet skis, each with two passengers, struck each other in a head-on collision off Lido Key here in Sarasota last Sunday. One other rider was hospitalized and two others sustained only minor injuries.
The Baltimore Orioles have called Ed Smith Stadium in North Sarasota home since 2010. It is the Spring Training home of the team and also doubles as a training facility for minor league prospects throughout the year.
Ed Smith Stadium is part of the fabric of Sarasota. I’ve been seeing Spring Training games there since I was a little kid. Heck, I saw Michael Jordan in a baseball uniform there! I drop my dog off at doggy daycare like once a week across the street from the Orioles’ facility here in town. So yeah, this does feel personal for people in the area. It’s a true tragedy. Be safe out there this summer, everyone.