Former Angels infielder Luis Valbuena and former Pirates second baseman José Castillo were killed in a car accident in Venezuela after playing in the country’s winter league, the MLB announced early Friday morning.
"We are saddened by the tragic news that Luis Valbuena and former major leaguer José Castillo have died in a car accident," Major League Baseball said in a tweet.
Valbuena, 33, and 37-year-old Castillo were teammates on the Venezuelan winter ball club Cardinales de Lara.
"We are living a horrible tragedy in Cardenales de Lara," Cardinales de Lara said in a statement after confirming the tragic passing.