Former league player Odalis Perez died, Thursday, after suffering an accident at his home in the Dominican Republic, according to multiple media reports. He was 44 years old.
Perez’s lawyer, Elaine Batista ESPN . said It appears that the left-handed fell from a ladder while he was alone in the house. He found his brother Perez after arriving home.
“We don’t yet know the cause of his death, but everything seems to indicate that Odalis slipped down the ladder,” Batista told ESPN. “This is a tragedy.”
Perez spent 10 years in the majors, breaking out with Atlanta at the age of 20 in 1998. After three seasons with Atlanta, Perez joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a four-player business deal that sent Gary Sheffield to the Braves.
In his first season in Los Angeles, 2002, Perez made the All-Star game for the only time in his career and finished the season with his career best in wins (15), starts (32), ERA (3.00) and upsets (155). He also had great success in his only professional career that year.
Perez finished his career with a 73-82 record with a 4.46 ERA on 252 appearances (221 starts). He also spent time with the Kansas City Royals (2006-2007) and the Washington Nationals (2008).
