Every so often a bright baseball star is snuffed out far too
early due to tragedy. One of these was the sad case of pitcher Miguel
Fuentes, who was a top prospect whose greatest distinction in his
26-inning major league career was throwing the final pitch in Seattle Pilots
history. Unfortunately, just as his burgeoning career was taking off, he was
murdered in the parking lot of a bar at the age of 23, ending what might have
been a star career in tragic fashion.
A native of Puerto Rico, the right-handed Fuentes was slight
(6’0” and 160 pounds), but became known as a top amateur pitcher. In 1968,
scout Felix Delgado signed the
hurler to a contract for the Pilots.
Fuentes was sent to Single-A for the 1969 season and proved
he was way too advanced for the level. In 26 games (6 starts) he was 8-2 with a
1.46 ERA, two shutouts and two saves. He only permitted 47 hits in 74 innings,
which seemed like solid proof that the 23-year-old was ready for the majors.
The Pilots agreed and brought him up for the final month of the season.
The Pilots were in the midst of a miserable season in 1969
that would see them sport a 64-98 record. Fuentes was slipped into a jack of
all trades role down the stretch. He showed off his vast potential almost
immediately, pitching a complete-game
seven-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in just his third big
league appearance.
Fuentes wound up making eight appearances (four starts) for
the Pilots, going 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA. He also threw the team’s final pitch in
the season finale (the team moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers the
following season)—a line out
to center field by future Hall-of-Famer Reggie
Jackson of the Oakland Athletics. Accordingly, hopes were high for
the young pitcher as he embarked to the off season and pitching for the Caguas
Criollos of the Puerto Rican Winter League.
On January 29, 1970, Fuentes was at a bar in Loiza Aldea
celebrating the end of Criollos’ season, drinking
with a group of teen aged friends. He went outside to relieve himself due to the
establishment’s non-working plumbing. Another patron, who thought the pitcher
was too close to their vehicle shot him three
times in the abdomen, hand and thigh at close range. He went into shock and died
shortly after being taken to a hospital
where medical staff could do nothing to save the young man.
There is no known information (that I could find) about what happened to
Fuentes’ murderer. What is known is that a young baseball player on the verge
of possibility and opportunity was cut down before he had a chance to fully
display the talent that had made him one of the top prospects in baseball.
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