Former Houston Astros prospect Ronny Garcia tragically lost his life in a traffic accident on April 19, 2024. He was 24 years old. The accident occurred on the Las Galeras-Samaná highway in Samaná, Dominican Republic, involving two motorcycles. Tragically, Garcia’s father and another person died in the crash.

Ronny Garcia, born and raised in Samaná, in the northeastern part of the Caribbean island, was a promising pitcher in the Astros organization. He signed with the team as a 16-year-old international free agent in 2016 and climbed through their minor league system over several seasons. 

Garcia, who played in the Astros’ minor leagues from 2017 to 2023, had a record of 9 wins and 15 losses. Initially part of the Dominican Summer League teams, he moved to the U.S. in 2021 and impressed with a 2.11 ERA across stints in the Florida Complex League and Class-A Fayetteville.

His performance continued to excel in 2022 as he maintained his form with the same teams, allowing just one run over 18.1 innings. Over his professional career, which spanned 122 games and 186.2 innings, Garcia achieved a 3.42 ERA, giving up 170 hits, 71 earned runs, and eight home runs while walking 100 and striking out 200 batters.

His most recent engagement was with the York (Pennsylvania) Revolution for the 2024 season. The Revolution is an unaffiliated semi-professional team in the Atlantic League, which was established in 1998 and has placed over 900 players in Major League Baseball systems. A few months ago, upon his signing, Revolution manager Rick Forney remarked, “He’s a promising young addition to our bullpen. His career statistics are impressive, and he’s a fascinating young pitcher. I’m eager to see him expand beyond a single-inning role, possibly as a bridge in the sixth or seventh inning. I’m looking forward to working with him closely.”

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, his former team, mourned his loss, saying, “Ronny was with Fayetteville for three seasons, always seen smiling at the ballpark. He was a skilled pitcher and a cherished team member. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family in these tough times.”

Social media tributes have poured in from fans, teammates, and baseball organizations, all expressing shock and sadness at the untimely loss of a young talent. The Astros organization expressed deep sorrow over his passing, extending their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” on “X” Saturday morning.