Ex-MLB Player Sean Burroughs Dies Suddenly At 43

Sean Burroughs, who once threw back-to-back no-hitters in the Little League World Series before making his way to Major League Baseball, has passed away at the age of 43.

California’s Long Beach Little League confirmed Burroughs’ death in an Instagram post on Saturday, stating that that he “tragically passed away” this past Thursday. “Sean was a legend in LBLL and the baseball community for winning back-to-back Little League World Series championships for LBLL in 1992 and 1993.”

“We will have his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time and try to end the season playing the kind of baseball Coach Sean would be proud of,” the statement continued.

MLB reporter Bob Nightengale stated that Burroughs collapsed and died in a parking lot after dropping his son, Knox, off for a little league game. He was found unconscious near his car shortly afterwards, while attempts to revive him were unsuccessful,  Long Beach Little League President Doug Wittman said.

Burroughs’ mother, Debbie, told the Southern California News Group her son went into cardiac arrest.

After an immaculate pre-MLB run that included the two little league titles, as well as an Olympic gold medal with team USA, Burroughs was selected with the ninth overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 1998 MLB Draft. He decided to sign with the Padres rather than attend USC on a baseball scholarship.

Burroughs first cracked the big leagues in 2002, when he made the Padres’ Opening Day roster. He went on to play parts of eight MLB seasons with four different teams, his last appearance coming with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012.

In the wake of his passing, condolences have poured in from all of Burroughs’ former teams and organizations.

“We mourn the passing of former Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs,” the San Diego Padres announced in a  statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time.”

“We at USA Baseball are heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Sean,” USA Baseball CEO Paul Seiler said in a statement. “Sean was a part of one of our most beloved teams, and he represented our country on and off the field in a first-class manner. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Burroughs family during this time.”

Long Beach Little League will be holding a candlelight vigil for Burroughs at 7 p.m. on Saturday.