Corey Phelan -- a minor league baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies organization -- passed away after battling cancer. He was only 20 years old.
The team announced the sad news Thursday evening ... saying they are devastated over Phelan's death and described how his "positive presence and selflessness influenced everyone around him".
"Corey is and will always be a special person," Phillies director of player development Preston Mattingly said.
"His smile lit up a room and everyone who came in contact with him cherished the interaction.