Mets minor leaguer dies of apparent heart attack

Oct 24, 10:03 pm EDT

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NEW YORK (AP)—New York Mets minor league pitcher Rafael Castro has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 18.

Castro died Friday at the Mets’ academy in Carabobo, Venezuela. The Mets announced his death Saturday.

Castro had spent two years with the Mets’ team in the Venezuelan Summer League. The right-handed pitcher was from Colombia.

Updated Oct 24, 10:03 pm EDT
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28 Comments

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  1. Dagweeed
    28. Posted by Dagweeed Tue Oct 27 7:47pm EDT

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    Good bye OMAR don't let the drugs hit you in the Nose !!!!!
  2. Lind
    27. Posted by Lind Mon Oct 26 9:48pm EDT

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    People can die at any age of a heart problem. Mets are cursed. Call it the Madoff curse.
  3. Get Help
    26. Posted by Get Help Mon Oct 26 3:18pm EDT

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    I don't blame him, I wouldn't play for the Mets either.
  4. <i>bundyfan1</i>
    25. Posted by bundyfan1 Mon Oct 26 2:14pm EDT

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    Alright!! That means there is now an open roster spot!! All it takes is a break sometimes!!
  5. big j
    24. Posted by big j Mon Oct 26 1:41am EDT

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    #10 Kanay D..yes..Alexei Cherapanov died last year during a game in Russia. He was only 19 and he had a heart problem that went undetected.
  6. El Conquistador
    23. Posted by El Conquistador Sun Oct 25 4:37pm EDT

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    This is probably another case of an Hispanic saying he was younger than he really is. If the Mets had known he was closer to 67, they probably would have been a little more cautious with him.
  7. FELIX CAMPITI
    22. Posted by FELIX CAMPITI Sun Oct 25 1:27pm EDT

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    #15 Billy, what kind of a s s hole are you ,a real one or just one in training? This guy writes, "nobody lives forever", this kid didn't live at all!!!!
  8. FELIX CAMPITI
    21. Posted by FELIX CAMPITI Sun Oct 25 1:23pm EDT

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    My Son in Law is an Interventional Cardiologist affiliated with Mass General in Boston. He has told us before that this is not unusual as 35% of the population may have some type of "hole" in their heart an never even know it. Most are nothing and often are not treated, just watched!! However how many 18 year olds actually have ever had a Cardiac Workup, and actually who would expect that one would need one?
  9. bill
    20. Posted by bill Sun Oct 25 12:44pm EDT

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    till now the only thing that did not happen to the met organization this year was someone died now the circle is complete and everthing possible happened this year
    yet more proof they need to look at the medical and training staff from top to bottom in the entire organization to prevent this fromever happening again
    god bless this young pitcher and his family hopefully the mets do something in his memory to help prevent this from repeating again
  10. superchicken
    19. Posted by superchicken Sun Oct 25 11:46am EDT

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    Probably more snow up his nose than at a party at Richard Pryor's place in 1977.
  11. Peckerwood
    18. Posted by Peckerwood Sun Oct 25 11:38am EDT

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    If in fact he is 18...I met a scout for the Braves the other day and asked for a tryout...I told him I was 19 and pulled out an imaginary Dominican birth certificate out of my back pocket...this could have been 58 for all we know...lol in all seriousness, if he was 18 or 22, that's just sad....heart attack that young? Makes you feel mortal doesn't it??
  12. <i>easyspeak03</i>
    17. Posted by easyspeak03 Sun Oct 25 10:13am EDT

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    Obviously had a heart problem that was undetected. It happens all the time that young people drop from heart problems, particularly basketball players.
  13. <i>easyspeak03</i>
    16. Posted by easyspeak03 Sun Oct 25 10:13am EDT

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    Obviously had a heart problem that was undetected. It happens all the time that young people drop from heart problems, particularly basketball players.
  14. Billy
    15. Posted by Billy Sun Oct 25 9:24am EDT

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    nobody lives forever.
  15. <i>stockwell7494</i>
    14. Posted by stockwell7494 Sun Oct 25 8:45am EDT

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    Have any of you ever sat in a Pediatric Cardiologist office? Many children have life threatening congenital heart defects that go undetected. I think it is just aweful that people jump to the worst possible conclusions when they are clueless to the truth. At least wait till the official cause is released before you start bad mouthing the poor kid. Very sad for him & all of you.
  16. Billy
    13. Posted by Billy Sun Oct 25 7:36am EDT

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    It sad to see someone so young dies at that age, but unfortunite in the world of sports, there are young players like Castros dies of these disease, it's common when you play constandly every day, as far as the common that neuz posted about columbia's or indirect the country as well is to what I was reading on his post, is common that most latin country suffer the same crime spread as well as the United States and many other countries as well, neuz is comparing apple's and orange's, his death got nothing to do with the drug problems in his country, this young man death is the cause of a heart attack that may proceed to an autopsy, which it will determine the nature of his death or the ACTUAL cause of it, neuz was just rushing to judgement or he just basically stated an opinion about the country current situation, I personally believe he was at the wrong topic..Thank you.
  17. <i>pmlmotorsports</i>
    12. Posted by pmlmotorsports Sun Oct 25 7:06am EDT

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    I'll admit, it's very sad for his family and loved ones. However, isn't it odd that an athlete only 18 years of age has a heart attack? With all these athletes using PEDs, one cannot help but wonder. Tragic? YES, but like John R said, I smell a rat........or should I say, something is fishy.
  18. Kanay D
    11. Posted by Kanay D Sun Oct 25 4:21am EDT

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    Very sad. My thoughts go out to his family. Wasn't it NY who also lost an 18 yr old hockey prospect earlier this year too?
  19. neuz
    10. Posted by neuz Sun Oct 25 3:59am EDT

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    just saying what's in colombia. Its a real problem there to where anyone with money coming home from work in their business suit can make a stop at almost any corner someone can break him off a bumb. Even smart, sober colombians know its a real problem.
  20. redwingsrule
    9. Posted by redwingsrule Sun Oct 25 2:05am EDT

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    the mets just get better news day after.

    damn 18 year old so young.
  21. THE ONE
    8. Posted by THE ONE Sun Oct 25 1:51am EDT

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    Sad story. I have never heard a 18year old having a heart attack
  22. supper
    7. Posted by supper Sun Oct 25 1:51am EDT

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    Neuz, your a real ass hole
  23. Fien SHOULD CLOSE
    6. Posted by Fien SHOULD CLOSE Sun Oct 25 1:34am EDT

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    Neuz IS an idiot, but I think everyone is very interested in the cause of the myocardial infarction.
  24. <i>seventmchamps</i>
    5. Posted by seventmchamps Sun Oct 25 12:35am EDT

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    way to young, very sad..........neuz, you are an idiot
  25. John R
    4. Posted by John R Sun Oct 25 12:35am EDT

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    Yes , Sad But I Smell A Rat .
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