Victor Sanchez Passes Away From Head Injury
The best part about getting to write for Emerald City Swagger, is that I get to write about the Seattle sports teams I love and the athletes that play for them.
But this story isn’t about an athlete. It’s about Victor Sanchez the person, and the tragic boating accident that ended his life. The details can be found in this Mariners.com release.
"Sanchez sustained a double skull fracture and a brain hematoma after he was struck by a watercraft while swimming on a beach last Friday. He was rushed into surgery in a nearby hospital and is using a breathing tube and a ventilator."
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I won’t objectify his life by telling you what his numbers and rankings are, in fact it bothers me when the headlines read: “Mariners #11 Prospect Dies”, or “Seattle Loses Promising Minor Leaguer”. The story should be that a fellow human being has died, the Tacoma Rainiers lost a teammate, and a family has lost their son, brother and husband.
This fantastic article from Larry Stone of the Seattle Times included some snippets from conversations that Stone had with Jim Horner, manager of Seattle’s Class AA affiliate, and Eddie Menchaca, manager of Seattle’s Class A affiliate.
"“He competed his fanny off,’’ said Horner. “He’s a phenomenal kid. He hated to lose, and he hated to get hit. That’s the mentality you want. There’s a reason they gave him what they gave him.’’“He didn’t say much; he was really a quiet, reserved kid, but he was really, really smart,’’ Menchaca said. “He was advanced for his age in every aspect. Especially away from the field, in his personal life. It seems like he had a good direction. He had an idea of what he was trying to do with his life and where he wanted to go.”“It was almost like watching a movie,’’ Menchaca recalled. “His mom had never seen him pitch, and, bam, he throws a no-hitter. Really? Man, that just doesn’t happen. It was a great moment not only for him but for us as fans to witness. It kind of signaled, ‘I’m on my way.’ ’’Menchaca recalls talking to Sanchez’s mom, who was crying tears of joy after witnessing the no-hitter. She asked the manager how her son was comporting himself. “Just great. You’ve raised a great kid,’’ Menchaca assured her in Spanish."
It’s impossible to imagine Victor Sanchez dying so soon. As a fellow 20-year-old, I’m reluctant to admit that I could be even one-fourth of the way through my life.
I have never met them, and I most likely never will, but my prayers are with Sanchez and his family in the midst of this sobering and horrifying accident.