| Subject: Angels Rookie Pitcher Adenhart Killed in Hit-And-Run Crash |
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Fullerton, CA
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Date Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2009, 12:37:14pm
Nick Adenhart, a 22-year-old pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who is from Hagerstown, Md., was killed early this morning in a traffic accident in Fullerton, Calif., according to media reports. Adenhart started for the Angels at home against the Oakland Athletics last night, pitching six shutout innings.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the accident occurred shortly after midnight in Fullerton, a city near the Angels' stadium in Anaheim. The Times reported that witnesses told police that a minivan ran a red light at an intersection, striking a Mitsubishi carrying four people. Two were pronounced dead at the scene and one was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, the Times reported. The minivan driver ran away from the scene but was taken into custody a mile away.
John Murray, a spokesman for the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, told the Associated Press that Adenhart died at the hospital after undergoing surgery.
"The Angels family has suffered a tremendous loss today," Angels General Manager Tony Reagins said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nick's family, friends' loved ones and fans."
Adenhart is survived by his father, Jim, and mother, Janet. His family released the following statement through the Angels:
"Nick's family expresses sincere gratitude for all the help the Angels have provided. He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people. The Angels were his extended family. Thanks to all of Nick's loyal supporters and fans throughout his career. He will always be in everyone's hearts forever."
Adenhart, a right-handed pitcher, was selected by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2004 draft out of Williamsport High outside Hagerstown and was the Angels' top-ranked prospect this season, according to Baseball America. As a senior he led his team to the Maryland 1-A championship game in 2004 but lost 1-0 to Cambridge-South Dorchester.
Adenhart was a phenom from a very young age. He pitched a Little League all-star team to the state tournament at age 11. As a 12-year-old he was so overpowering that a rival coach said of him: "It was absolutely incredible. I'm telling you, it was him and the catcher, and that's all they needed. I mean, you had no chance."
He attended Saint Maria Goretti High as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Williamsport where he quickly became dominant.
"He's the best I've ever seen," South Hagerstown high school coach Ralph Stottlemyer told the Post in 2004.
Before his senior season, he was named the No. 1 prep prospect in the country by Baseball America.
That season, he threw a perfect game to start the campaign and was 5-1 with an 0.73 ERA and an average of 2.2 strikeouts per inning when he suffered a partial ligament tear in his elbow while throwing in his final regular season game. The injury kept him from pitching in the state playoffs.
Adenhart signed with the University of North Carolina and was a good student, with a 3.2 GPA and a 1240 SAT score. But instead of becoming a Tar Heel, Adenhart and the Angels struck a deal: He dropped North Carolina and the Angels gave him a $710,000 bonus, which is much higher than a 14th round pick normally gets, and set him up to take two semesters of classes at Arizona State while his arm recovered from ligament replacement surgery.
After recovering from the injury, he pitched one game for Oregon of the Pioneer League in 2005 but showed his promise in the Arizona fall league. He went 2-3 with a 3.68 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 42 innings.
The Angels started him in Class A in 2006, but a 10-2 start with a 1.95 ERA in 16 starts at Cedar Rapids got him a promotion to High Class A. He didn't disappoint there despite being the youngest player in the California League at age 19, going 5-2 with a 3.78 ERA in nine starts at Rancho Cucamonga
He spent all of 2007 in Class AA, pitching for Arkansas. A 10-8 season with a 3.65 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 153 innings cemented his status as one of the Angels' top prospects.
In 2008, he was promoted to the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and quickly won his first four decisions for Salt Lake City. He was called up to make three starts for the Angels but he struggled with his control, walking 13 batters in 12 innings.
He was sent back down and lost 10 of his next 12 decisions. He finished the season 9-13 with a 5.76 ERA for Salt Lake City.
But the PCL is notoriously hard on pitchers and he had a strong spring. With Angels starters John Lackey (forearm strain), Ervin Santana (strained elbow ligament) and Kelvim Escobar (labrum surgery) hurting, Adenhart won a spot in the Angels' rotation.
Adenhart was a member of the U.S. Olympic Qualifying Team that earned a berth to Beijing.
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