EX-MLB Players Luis Valbuena & Jose Castillo Killed In Thursday Caracas Crash

CARACAS, (THECOUNT) — Former MLB players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash on Thursday night after departing the UCV Baseball University, a spokesperson for their Venezuelan team confirmed.

Valbuena was 33 and Castillo was 37.

The players were en route to the city of Barquisimeto, where they were planning to play against Bravos de Margarita on Friday.

The crash occurred after Valbuena and Castillo left the University Stadium at Caracas after playing a game in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Venezuelan authorities said their car went to the opposite side of the road while trying to avoid a sliding rock. source

Valbuena played 11 seasons in the majors, including his final two with the Los Angeles Angels, who released him in August. He also played with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros.

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

Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, is a commercial and cultural center located in a northern mountain valley. Independence leader Simón Bolívar is buried at the National Pantheon of Venezuela, established in the 19th century in the city’s old town. Caracas Cathedral, a landmark of Romanesque architecture, dates to the 17th century. Parque Central 225m-high twin towers are the signature of the skyline, according to wikipedia.