Former LA Dodgers pitcher Reyes Moronta tragically passed away at the age of 31 in a car accident on Sunday night in his home country, the Dominican Republic, as reported by MLB insider Hector Gomez. Moronta, who was a free agent at the time, had a brief but notable MLB career.
During his stint with the Dodgers in 2022, Moronta played in 22 games. Over his major league career, he had a record of 10-11 with a 3.05 ERA in 177 games, including three saves across 171.1 innings pitched. He allowed 16 home runs, issued 94 walks, struck out 202 batters, and had a WHIP of 1.23.
In May 2023, Moronta signed a minor league contract with the Angels. He impressed with three scoreless appearances for Salt Lake City, which earned him a promotion to the major league roster. However, he struggled in his two MLB appearances, posting a 6.75 ERA in just 1.1 innings, leading to his return to the minors. By October, Moronta opted for free agency but didn’t attract interest from major league teams. This led him to sign with the Bravos de León in the Mexican League in May 2024. Unfortunately, he continued to struggle, recording an 8.69 ERA over 19.2 innings, and was eventually released by the team.
Reyes Moronta was the youngest of five children born to Francisco and Ivonne Moronta in Santiago, Dominican Republic. His father was a truck driver, and his mother worked in a cigar factory. At 17, Moronta signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants as an international free agent in September 2010 for $15,000. He made his MLB debut with the Giants in September 2017. However, his career faced a setback when he missed the entire 2020 season due to surgery in September 2019 to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Moronta’s journey through professional baseball saw him play for multiple teams and overcome significant challenges, but his life was cut tragically short, leaving a legacy in the MLB community.