Pedro Feliciano Died: What Was His Cause Of Death?

Former major leagues Carlos Delgado and Jesús Feliciano talk about the life of their colleague, who died on Monday at just 45 years old.

Friends and former teammates reported to the Mets that Feliciano was found dead in his sleep Monday at his home in Puerto Rico.

Feliciano suffered from a rare genetic condition called left ventricular noncompaction, caused by a developmental defect of the myocardium from birth. He was diagnosed in 2013 during his last season in the majors.  The cause of death has not been disclosed.

In the last years of his life, former Major League Baseball pitcher Pedro Feliciano enjoyed his family to the fullest by being part of activities somewhat away from professional baseball and closer to the family and spiritual environment.

And judging by what his friend Jesús ‘Motorita’ Feliciano says, who despite sharing his last name did not have a natural relationship with the former Major League pitcher although life did unite them as brothers, Pedro, 45, lived life post his professional career always trying to have a good time and without giving, at least in his conversations between friends, much concern to the defect that his heart had due to a genetic cause as it was discovered in 2013 when he was subjected to tests after failing an exam physical prior to a season.

“From what I talked to him, the only time we talked about it as a concern was when it was discovered in 2013,” recalls Motorita, who has mourned the death of Pedro Feliciano, which happened on Monday morning in his residence in Vega Alta for reasons that have not yet been disclosed and therefore have not been officially related to the defect in his heart.

“He lived a normal life. This year, in fact, I shared a lot because he, his wife Wanda and their children went a lot to see the Changas de Naranjito games (of the Superior Women’s Volleyball League) as fans, ”said Motorita in reference to the team whose wife, former volleyball player Tatiana Encarnación is the general manager.

Motorita highlights that in recent years Pedro has remained in good physical condition as always, doing exercises, fulfilling the functions of their father, and active with his wife Wanda in a church.

“He was like a brother to me. When I signed up and arrived in Vero Beach, Florida, where the Dodgers’ spring training center was, the first person I met and shared with on a professional level was Pedro. From then on he was when he went through an operation process, and then we were with the Mets. He was a brother. And his departure hurts me a lot, ”says Motorita, who today works as a manager at the Puerto Rico Baseball & High School Academy in Gurabo.

“In more recent times he was a little away from the professional ball, because he was up and down with his son in the parks, with his family, and at church.”

Another who expressed being extremely shocked by the death of the former relief pitcher for the New York Mets or is his former teammate in that ninth and with Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Carlos Delgado.

“That sad news gave me a lot of feeling. We were partners for a couple of years in New York and he was a cheerful, funny guy. It is so sad that he leaves so young, only 45 years old. A person is not supposed to die so young, ”Delgado said.

The former first baseman of the Mets, who in his time on the team were baptized as the “Bori Mets” due to the presence, in addition to them, of other players such as Carlos Beltrán, Tony Valentín, and Alex Cora, among some others, highlighted by way of sports that Pedro Feliciano enjoyed his respect and the respect of all his teammates because he was a competitor.

“He pitched almost every day, against the hard left-handers of the other team and in always pressure situations. He liked the moment and as teammates, we all recognized his value, “said Delgado, recalling that the deceased holds the record of being the left-handed pitcher who has participated in the most game of a season in baseball history with a total of 92 appearances in 2010. .

“Pedro struggled. He always wanted the ball and especially if the game was on the line. I will always remember him for that and we will always love him because he was a jovial person, the life of the party, always funny. A person who gave himself a lot to love ”.

Pedro Feliciano’s family at the moment has not announced when they will carry out his wake and burial. His body was, as of this writing, in Forensic Sciences awaiting the evaluation that will confirm the cause of his death.