Angels Rookie Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash

A hospital official says Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart has died in a hit-and-run car crash after a game.

University of California, Irvine Medical Center spokesman John Murray says Adenhart died Thursday morning after undergoing surgery.

Officials said the 22-year-old Adenhart was one of three people killed in the crash early Thursday after pitching in a loss against the Oakland Athletics.

The driver of a minivan ran a red light in Fullerton and hit two cars, including one carrying Adenhart.

Police Lt. Craig Brower said the minivan driver fled the crash scene and was captured a short time later. The driver was arrested and booked for investigation of felony hit-and-run.

Adenhart was drafted by the Angels out of Williamsport, Maryland in 2004. He was coming off elbow surgery, but the Angels gave him $700,000 to turn pro rather than attend the University of North Carolina. After recovering from the elbow surgery, he rose quickly through the Angels’ system and made his Major League debut in 2008, when he was just 21 years old.

Our condolences to the family and to the Angels organization.