Sean Burroughs, a winner of the Little League World Collection, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist and a first-round choose within the MLB draft, has died on the age of 43.
The Lengthy Seaside Little League primarily based in California mentioned in a assertion posted to Instagram that Burroughs “tragically handed away” Thursday afternoon. His mom, Debbie, informed the Southern California Information Group that the reason for loss of life was cardiac arrest.
In response to Lengthy Seaside Little League president Doug Wittman, Burroughs was discovered unconscious subsequent to his automotive within the car parking zone at a Lengthy Seaside ballfield after dropping off his son, Knox, for a Little League sport.
Wittman mentioned CPR was carried out on Burroughs in hopes of reviving him however that he remained unresponsive and was pronounced lifeless on the scene shortly after.
“It was very surprising,” Wittman informed The Orange County Register. “It is an actual sense of household at Lengthy Seaside Little League. So once we lose considered one of our personal, it hurts.”
In its assertion, the Lengthy Seaside Little League praised Burroughs as “a legend in LBLL and the baseball group for profitable back-to-back Little League World Collection Championships for LBLL in 1992 and 1993.”
“To say it is a big loss is an understatement,” the assertion continued. “… We may have his household in our ideas and prayers throughout this time and attempt to finish the season enjoying the form of baseball Coach Sean could be pleased with.”
Burroughs threw back-to-back no-hitters to assist Lengthy Seaside to consecutive Little League championships then went on to star at Lengthy Seaside Wilson Excessive.
The son of 1974 American League MVP Jeff Burroughs was chosen with the No. 9 total choose by the San Diego Padres in 1998. The third baseman made his main league debut in April 2002, recorded the primary walk-off hit for the Padres in Petco Park historical past in 2004 and was out of baseball in 2007 earlier than returning to play from 2011 to 2012.
“I simply did not have the drive or the eagerness,” Burroughs informed ESPN in June 2011 of his resolution to stroll away from the sport. “I used to be spent bodily and spent mentally. It simply wasn’t there. I used to be emotionally drained. I nonetheless liked the sport and revered the sport, however I did not have the drive to go to the park daily. I form of misplaced the will.”
Burroughs informed ESPN that he was a substance abuser residing in low cost motels in Las Vegas and consuming out of trash cans. It lasted till he seemed within the mirror, determined he did not acknowledge himself and vowed to show issues round.
He moved again into his childhood residence, underneath the home guidelines, and labored himself again into baseball form.
Burroughs performed for the Padres from 2002 to 2005 and was traded to Tampa Bay in late 2005. The Rays launched him the next August. After a quick stint within the Seattle Mariners‘ group, he walked away from the sport.
He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011 and ended his MLB profession in 2012 after 10 video games with the Minnesota Twins.
Burroughs performed 79 video games with the impartial Lengthy Island Geese (2015-16), profitable the Atlantic League batting title in 2015.
Chosen for the 2000 U.S. staff that received its first-ever gold medal in Sydney, Burroughs performed in 4 video games on the Olympics and compiled a .375 batting common.
“We at USA Baseball are heartbroken to listen to of the tragic passing of Sean,” USA Baseball govt director and CEO Paul Seiler mentioned in a press release. “Sean was part of considered one of our most beloved groups, and he represented our nation on and off the sector in a first-class method. Our ideas and prayers are with the Burroughs household throughout this time.”
In his main league profession, Burroughs appeared in 528 video games, batted .278, hit 12 residence runs and drove in 143.
He appeared as an additional in TV exhibits “Knots Touchdown” and “Saved by the Bell,” in addition to the movie “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”
Discipline Degree Media and The Related Press contributed to this report.
