Photo credit: nypost.com

By: Amaury Pi-González

This Thursday, a car crash claimed the lives of two former MLB players in Venezuela. But officials are reporting that it could have been a gang of thieves that engineered the accident in order to rob Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo, who were teammates in the Venezuelan Winter League. They were traveling with teammate Carlos Rivero when the vehicle suddenly slammed into a large rock in the middle of the road. Authorities believe the rock have been purposely placed in hopes it would lead to an accident to allow the thieves to rob the vehicle occupants.

The vehicle was destroyed in the wreck. Both Valbuena and Castillo were not wearing seat-belts and died instantly as they were thrown out of the car. Rivero survived. The Toyota they were driven was looted right there at the place of the “accident.”

The Cardenales de Lara, the team that both Valbuena and Castillo had played for, called the accident a terrible tragedy.

“We are saddened by the tragic news that Luis Valbuena and former major leaguer Jose Castillo have died in a car accident,” MLB wrote in a tweet.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Angel Luis Valbuena and former MLB infielder José Castillo. Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones during this time of grief,” Los Angeles Angels wrote in a tweet.

Valbuena was a very happy guy who was smiling most of the time and ready to play, every time I talked to him he would found a way to mention he was humble and grateful to be playing in the major leagues. The veteran was released in August 2018 by the Angels. Valbuena, 33, played 11 seasons in the majors after beginning his career in 2008 with the Seattle Mariners. He also played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and the Angels.

Castillo, 37, played in the majors from 2004 to 2008 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants and Astros.

They were two players who really loved the game, and like many Latino players, they go back to their countries to play winter ball.

Today, Venezuela today is suffering a national calamity with an economy that is basically non-existent, a government that has basically destroyed what once was, but one of the richest countries in Latin America with great oil reserves. Moreover, the population is suffering from malnutrition and violence. Over 1 million Venezuelan citizens fled to Colombia to live in exile.

Many reports report that by 2021, as many as 4 million Venezuelans would be living in neighbor Colombia if the situation continues to deteriorate in Venezuela. Venezuela, under Hugo Chávez and now Nicolas Maduro, have followed the socialistic ideas of Cuba.