The Boston Red Sox announced that catching prospect Daniel Flores passed away due to complications during cancer treatment.
Red Sox Nation was struck by horrible news Wednesday afternoon, as it was revealed that minor league catching prospect Daniel Flores has passed away due to complications during cancer treatment.
WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported earlier that morning that Flores was dealing with a serious medical condition. The exact diagnosis was unknown at the time, but we have since learned he was being treated for cancer.
The team released two statements regarding Flores, which they intend to be the only public comments at this time out of respect for the family.
"“Everyone at the Red Sox was shocked to hear of Daniel’s tragic passing,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. “To see the life of a young man with so much promise cut short is extremely saddening for all of us. On behalf of the Red Sox organization, I would like to extend our deepest sympathaies and condalences to Daniel’s family.”"
Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager Eddie Romero, who oversees international signings, also provided a heartfelt statement of his own.
"“Every member of our organization who got to know Daniel absoluately loved him. He was energetic, hard-working, and genuinely selfless, always with a smile on his face. He cared for his teammates and was a natural leader. I’m at a loss for words today. Daniel was an impressive young man with limitless potential, and his life was cut too short.”"
The 17-year old was signed by the Red Sox organization out of Venezuela a few short months ago to a $3.1 million signing bonus. He spent this past season at the Red Sox’s academy in the Dominican Republic.
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His youth and limited time in the organization didn’t hold scouts back from salivating over his vast potential, as he had already risen as high as fifth on the list of Red Sox prospects, according to MLB.com. There were many who believed Flores to be the best international catching prospect to come along in years.
Flores as ranked by both MLB.com and Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect among last year’s international free agents.
For anyone connected to the Red Sox, losing a member of the organization is like losing a family member. Any loss is always difficult, yet it seems all the more tragic when it happens to someone so young. A teenager on the verge of achieving a lifelong dream, only to have it stripped away by the cruel fate of a disease that has afflicted the lives of so many of us.
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We at BoSox Injection would also like to extend our condolences to the Flores family and the Red Sox organization. May he rest in peace.