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Pro baseball star Chace Numata, 27, dies after 2am motorised skateboard crash

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DETROIT TIGERS’ Chace Numata has tragically died aged 27 after a motorised skateboard crash in Pennsylvania on Friday.

Numata was a minor league catcher in his first season with the Tigers organisation and his death was announced on Monday.

Hawaiian born Numata was rushed to hospital in Erie around 2:15am on Friday after officers found him unconscious on the floor bleeding from his head.

Police were reportedly called to the scene after a motorist spotted the athlete on the ground.

Numata had been playing for Detroit’s Double A affiliate – the SeaWolves in Erie and the Tigers released a statement to announce his death.

It read: “The Detroit Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chace Numata, who was a catcher for our Double A affiliate in Erie.

“Though this was his first year with our organisation, Chace was beloved by many from our Major League club through all levels of our player development system.

“He had an engaging personality that quickly established him as a leader on and off the field, and his presence will be forever remembered in our organisation and beyond.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

He was a beautiful person, and he brought light into the lives of everyone he met.

Detroit catcher Jake Rogers

Police captain Rick Lorah said no vehicles were involved in the incident.

And the Detroit Free Press reported surveillance footage showed Numata riding down the street when his motorised board stopped and sent him tumbling forward to the ground.

Numata was previously involved with the New Yourk Yankees and tributes have poured in for the 27-year-old already.

Detroit catcher Jake Rogers – to who Numata was early season backup – had “Numi” written on his hat and admitted he was struggling to deal with the news.

He said: “This is really tough. I really don’t know what to say. He was a beautiful person, and he brought light into the lives of everyone he met.

“Chace helped me get here and his memory will always be with me.”

Chace Numata has tragically died aged 27
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Numata died in a motorised skateboard crash and previously represented the New York Yankees
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While Tigers pitcher Bryan Garcia said: “Chace was an all-time human being. I never met a single person who didn’t love him.”

Cam Gibson roomed with Numata on team trips and was quick to sing the praises of his former teammate.

He said: “He’s always dancing, always joking and making light of everything. He’s a bright light in everybody’s life.

“I can’t tell you the times he’s had heart-to-heart talks with me this year talking to me about what my future holds.

Numi is the heart and soul of this team

Teammate and roommate Cam Gibson

“Regardless if I’m doing well or doing bad, he’s always there.

“Numi is the heart and soul of this team. He has more heart and more soul than anybody in this entire organisation.”

Tigers general manager Al Avila had the near-impossible job of breaking the heartbreaking news the team and he said: “It is obviously a very quiet clubhouse right now.

“My staff and I only got to know him in spring training this year, but he was a real gamer.

“He loved to play baseball and he had a great personality.

“This is a tough day.”

Numata was drafted straight from Hawaii’s Pearl City High School in the 2010 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and had hit four home runs this season.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Numata’s family and it has already reached $37,000 of the $50k target.

This is not the first tragedy to hit American baseball this year after ex-Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic.

Numata was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies straight from high school in Hawaii
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