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Odalis Perez, a former MLB pitcher who spent 11 seasons in the big leagues, died in an accident at his home in the Dominican Republic, his lawyer said Thursday. He was 44 years old.
The Los Angeles Dodgers released a statement confirming Perez’s death.
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Odalis Perez of the Los Angeles Dodgers plays against the New York Mets on August 28, 2004 at Shea Stadium in New York. (Getty images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of former 2002 All-Star pitcher Odalis Perez. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the team said in a statement.
Perez’s attorney, Valin Batista, told ESPN that Perez fell down the stairs while he was alone in his home.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Odalis Perez watches practice before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on June 18, 2003. (Getty Images)
“At about 7:00 pm, his brother Christian Perez arrived at the house and found Odalis lying on the patio. We don’t yet know the cause of his death, but everything points to Odalis slipping down the stairs. It’s a tragedy,” Batista said.
Perez played for the Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, and Washington Nationals throughout his career. He was an All-Star for the Dodgers in 2002 when he was 15-10 with a 3.00 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 32 games.
Odalis Perez of the Washington Nationals fielding a ball against the New York Mets on April 15, 2008 at Shea Stadium in New York. All players and coaches on both teams wore number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. (Getty images)
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He last played for the Nationals in 2008. He made 30 starts for Washington and had a 4.34 ERA and 119 strikeouts. He reportedly signed a minor league contract with the team for the 2009 season, but did not show up for camp, hoping for a major league contract. He no longer participated in major tournaments.