Former Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Yoervis Medina died on Friday, according to Venezuelan news outlet Líder en Deportes. He was 37.
Líder en Deportes wrote that, according to numerous media reports, Medina suffered a heart attack while driving, which led to a collision with another car that resulted in his death.
The Mariners signed Medina as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2005. The right-hander then spent the next decade in Seattle’s organization.
Medina pitched for seven years in the Mariners’ farm system before making his MLB debut with Seattle in April 2013. He then spent the next two-plus seasons in the Mariners’ bullpen, where he posted a 2.82 ERA in 141 relief appearances. He totaled 140 strikeouts in 137 innings for Seattle.
In May 2015, the Mariners traded Medina to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Welington Castillo. Medina made just five relief appearances for the Cubs that season. His last stint with a minor league affiliate was in 2016 with the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization.
Medina continued to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League from 2016 through 2020, the Nicaraguan Winter League in 2021 and the Italian Serie A in 2023.
Sad news coming out of Venezuela, former AquaSox pitcher Yoervis Medina (2010) has passed away at the age of 37. He pitched in the Major Leagues between 2013 and 2015. RIP. pic.twitter.com/19oPeZFmgT
— Everett AquaSox (@EverettAquaSox) October 31, 2025
