Sad news in the MLB world.
Sean Burroughs, the former ninth overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 1998 and a 2000 Olympic gold medalist, suddenly passed away after collapsing at his son’s Little League game, it was announced on Friday according to TMZ.
Sean Burroughs, one of the greatest Little League players of all time, has died at the age of 43. He led Long Beach to the 1992 and 1993 Little League World Series titles and batted over .700 with 17 home runs one postseason while throwing 3 no-hitters
On Thursday, while coaching his son’s Little League game in California, the ex-third baseman went into cardiac arrest.
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Burroughs made a name for himself with the Long Beach Little League World Series teams in 1992-93, achieving distinction as the first American-born pitcher to deliver consecutive no-hitters, guiding his team to two titles.
His father, former American League MVP Jeff Burroughs, served as the team’s coach.
While Sean initially committed to playing college baseball at the University of Southern California, he opted to jumpstart his professional career instead.
Prior to his Major League Baseball debut, Burroughs represented the United States baseball team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, clinching a gold medal.
Over the course of seven MLB seasons, he played for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins.
In his 528 games played, Burroughs amassed 463 hits, 143 RBIs, and 12 home runs across 1,664 plate appearances.
Following his tenure in the majors, he remained active in independent baseball while also coaching his son, Knox, in the Long Beach Little League, the very league where his own journey began.
LBLL president Doug Wittman and the organization’s board of directors released a statement on Friday, expressing profound sorrow over Burroughs’ untimely passing:
“It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this message to inform you that yesterday afternoon one of our Coaches, Sean Burroughs, tragically passed away.
I have had the privilege of coaching with Sean for the past two years and he always came with a fun & friendly attitude the kids were drawn to, a wealth of baseball knowledge that could get any kid out of a batting rut and humility worth emulating.
To say this is a huge loss is an understatement. But what makes LBLL special is our community, we are a family. Families celebrate the highest highs and lift each other up during the lowest lows.
We will have his family in our thoughts and prayers during this time and try to end the season playing the kind of baseball Coach Sean would be proud of.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Sean Burroughs. RIP.
