Aussie baseball rocked by tragic death of 34-year-old star
Tributes have been pouring in from the baseball community for former Brisbane Bandits player Loek van Mil, who died aged 34.
The 7-foot-1 Dutch pitcher, who spent a decade in America's minor leagues before plying his trade in Australia, died from a "fatal acciident" according to the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB).
No further details were released about his death at the request of his family.
The pro career of van Mil started with the Minnesota Twins in 2006, and he made it up to Double-A in 2010.
He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2010, and spent time with the Cleveland Indians in 2012 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2013.
Van Mil spent a year with Japan’s Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2014, and in 2015 played for Curaçao Neptunus Rotterdam, a team in the Dutch Honkbal Hoofdklasse — the highest level of pro baseball in the Netherlands.
He got one more try in American baseball, signing with the Twins in August 2015, but was released from the Twins’ Triple-A team the following April.
Van Mil spent the next two years pitching in Australia’s pro baseball league, and also spent time pitching for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and 2017.
At over 7 feet tall, van Mil is the tallest man to have ever played professional baseball, tied with former Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Ryan Doherty.
The baseball community in Australia paid tribute to the 34-year-old on social media, with fans also expressing their devastation over his death.
Vale Loek Van Mil. The Brisbane Bandits are in mourning tonight after learning of the death of Bandits pitcher Loek Van Mil in a fatal accident in Europe in the last 24 hours. Our love & condolences go out to all members of his family, his friends & the baseball community pic.twitter.com/nLAlUPJxoX
— Couran Cove Brisbane Bandits (@BrisbaneBandits) July 29, 2019
We are deeply saddened by the tragic news Loek van Mil has passed away.https://t.co/FlaD3tTZYR pic.twitter.com/6Hkc7UlUUw
— Australian Baseball League (@ABL) July 29, 2019
RIP Loek van Mil. Sad that you died so young.
You remind me of my cousin, David, who was a handsome 7’2”— Shirley Ann Fisk (@msfisk111) July 30, 2019
Here at Adelaide we are heartbroken to hear Loek van Mil has passed away.
Loek spent three seasons in Adelaide and was a treasured part of our team. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and teammates.
Vale Loek van Mil: https://t.co/sfB3kNrJzl pic.twitter.com/6PCum7kvj5— Adelaide Bite Baseball Club (@AdelaideBite) July 29, 2019
We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Dutch Team pitcher Loek van Mil. RIP @Dutch_ball @NLinUK @FollowOranges pic.twitter.com/F6diTjN7Wa
— BRITISH BASEBALL FEDERATION (@BritishBaseball) July 29, 2019
From all here at Baseball NSW we extend our sincere condolences to Loek van Mil's family, friends and the Brisbane Bandits. Rest In Peace ⚾ pic.twitter.com/CuC7eus0nf
— Baseball NSW (@BaseballNSW) July 30, 2019
Van Mil was in a serious hiking accident Canberra, Australia in December 2018.
He was left unconscious in nature for 24 hours after hitting his head on rocks.
He was admitted to hospital and received treatment for multiple fractures, hemorrhages, and bleeding of the brain.
Van Mil announced his retirement from baseball just a week ago as he continued to recover from the head injury he sustained in the hiking accident.
With Yahoo Sports US