July 29 (UPI) -- Former Minnesota Twins prospect Loek van Mil, who at 7-foot-1 was the tallest pitcher in professional baseball history, died Sunday evening from injuries sustained in a fatal accident. He was 34.
The Brisbane Bandits, van Mil's last professional team, announced his death Monday morning. Van Mil was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in seven games for the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League last year.
He retired after sustaining serious head injuries while hiking last December.
"Our love & condolences go out to all members of his family, his friends & the baseball community," the team tweeted.
Van Mil signed a seven-year contract with the Minnesota Twins as a 20-year-old in 2005. He was with the Twins through 2010 before he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels.
Van Mil also played for the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds before he signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball in early 2014. Van Mil was 12-27 with a 3.48 ERA in 241 Minor League games from 2006 to 2013.
Van Mil represented the Netherlands in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He participated in what is believed to be the tallest batter-pitcher matchup in baseball history when he walked 6-foot-8 Nate Freiman of Team Israel.
