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One Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer killed, two injured in car crash

By Daniel Uria
Overll view of the stadium as fans enter before the start of the 86th All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, in Cincinnati on July 14, 2015. One Reds minor leaguer was killed and two were injured in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI
Overll view of the stadium as fans enter before the start of the 86th All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, in Cincinnati on July 14, 2015. One Reds minor leaguer was killed and two were injured in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 4 (UPI) -- One Cincinnati Reds minor league player was killed and two others were injured in a car crash in the Dominican Republic, the team said Saturday night.

Pitcher Jairo Capellán, 19, was killed in the crash, the team said in a statement. He signed with the Reds in June 2017 and played for the team in the Dominican Summer League last season.

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"Jairo was a talented young pitcher with a bright future who was taken from us much too soon," said Reds' Latin America Field Coordinator Joel Noboa. "He will be missed by everyone who knew him -- his teammates, coaches and our Dominican Academy staff."

Pitcher Raul Hernandez and outfielder Emilio Garcia, both 19 years old, were both taken to a local hospital after the crash. Hernandez was in critical condition, while Garcia was listed in stable condition.

All three players involved in the crash are natives of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and were teammates in the Dominican Summer League, The Cincinnati Inquirer reported.

"We received this terrible news and send our condolences and support to the families, friends and teammates of Jairo, Raul and Emilio," Reds owner Bob Castellini said. "Our Dominican operations are an integral part of the Reds organization, and this tragedy affects us all. We will remain closely involved to help everyone through this difficult time."

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The crash reportedly took place on a highway near Boca Chica, according to Operación Deportiva, a radio station in the Dominican Republic.

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