Former Mariners Reliever Yoervis Medina Dies at 37 in Venezuela Car Crash: Heart Attack Suspected Behind Tragic Loss.vc
November 1, 2025 – Seattle, WA – The baseball world is in mourning following the sudden death of Yoervis Medina, a hard-throwing right-handed reliever who dazzled in Seattle Mariners uniforms from 2013 to 2015. The 37-year-old Venezuelan native reportedly suffered a suspected heart attack while driving Thursday night in Naguanagua, Carabobo, leading to a fatal collision with parked vehicles outside the Vía Veneto Shopping Center, according to local authorities and Venezuelan media.
Medina, who also pitched briefly for the Chicago Cubs in 2015, leaves behind a legacy of ground-ball dominance and international grit. Signed by the Mariners as a 16-year-old amateur free agent in 2005, he toiled seven years in the minors before debuting in April 2013, quickly becoming a bullpen staple with a 2.81 ERA over 125 innings in his first two MLB seasons.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Mariners pitcher Yoervis Medina,” the Mariners said in a statement. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.” Medina’s former minor-league affiliate, the Everett AquaSox, echoed the grief: “Sad news coming out of Venezuela… RIP.”
Medina’s MLB Snapshot: Power and Precision in Relief
| Season | Team | ERA | IP | K% | BB% | GB% | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Mariners | 2.81 | 125 | 24.3% | 12.6% | 53.5% (21st in MLB) | Ranked 34th in ERA among 109 qualified relievers |
| 2015 | Mariners/Cubs | 3.08 (career) | 21 | 23.1% | 12.4% | 50.4% | Traded to Cubs for Welington Castillo; 7.00 ERA in 5 G |
| Career | MLB | 3.08 | 146 | 23.1% | 12.4% | 51.2% | 10–9 record, 140 K in 137 IP for SEA |
Medina’s sinker-heavy arsenal (95.8 mph average velocity in prime) induced grounders at an elite clip, ranking him among the top relievers in 2014. Traded to Chicago in May 2015, he appeared in just five games (7.00 ERA) before minor-league stints with the Pirates and Phillies in 2016.
Post-MLB, Medina’s odyssey continued: Venezuelan Winter League (2016–20 with Tiburones de La Guaira and Cardenales de Lara), Nicaraguan Winter League (2021), Italian Serie A (2023), and Czech Baseball Extraliga (2024). “His contributions to the sport in Venezuela and abroad will be remembered fondly,” one Venezuelan outlet noted.
Heartbreakingly, Medina’s passing comes weeks after his Seattle teammate Jesús Montero died in a motorcycle crash earlier in October.
Tributes Pour In: A Life of Dedication Cut Short
- Cardenales de Lara: “We mourn the passing of Mr. Yoervis Medina… a member of our team during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons.”
- Águilas del Zulia: “Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”
- Fans & Peers: “RIP… Tomorrow isn’t promised. Glad he got to fulfill his dream.”
Medina, the 290th Venezuelan-born MLB player, embodied resilience from Puerto Cabello streets to Safeco Field mound. His story — raw power, quiet hustle — reminds us: Baseball’s curveballs can be cruelest off the field.
Our deepest condolences to Medina’s family, friends, and the global baseball community. Rest in power, Yoervis.
