ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles 
Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people were killed early Thursday by a suspected drunk driver just hours after the rookie made his first start of the season.
The Angels postponed Thursday night's game with Oakland, and players planned to gather to remember their teammate, manager Mike Scioscia said.
About Adenhart
Nick Adenhart was selected by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2004 draft. At the time of his death, he was the youngest pitcher on a big league roster.• Age: 22 (born Aug. 24, 1986)• MLB debut: May 1, 2008• Career MLB record: 1-0 (4 starts)• Career minor league record: 37-28
"It is a tragedy that will never be forgotten," he said at an Angel Stadium news conference.
Adenhart, 22, from Silver Spring, Md., was a passenger in a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse that was broadsided in an intersection in neighboring Fullerton at about 12:30 a.m. local time by a minivan that apparently ran a red light, police said.
The impact spun around both vehicles, and one then struck a third car, but that driver was not hurt, police said.
The minivan driver fled the crash scene on foot and was captured a half-hour later. Police identified him as Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside, and said he had a suspended license because of a previous drunken driving conviction.
Preliminary results indicated Gallo's blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit, police Lt. Kevin Hamilton said, adding that Gallo could face charges including vehicular manslaughter or possibly murder.
Adenhart died in surgery at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. A 27-year-old man in the car and the driver, 20-year-old Courtney Frances Stewart of Diamond Bar, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
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The Angels said no other members of their organization were involved in the accident. A 24-year-old man who was in the same car as the three killed remained hospitalized in critical condition, police said.
Stewart's mother said her daughter and Adenhart had known each other since last season but were not dating as far as she knew, Hamilton said.
The mother said Adenhart and the others had gone dancing at a club about a block away from the crash site, although the crash scene appeared to indicate the car was heading in the direction of the club, Hamilton said.
Stewart died in the crash, along with another occupant of Adenhart's car, Henry Pearson. According to friends of Adenhart at Cal State Fullerton, Pearson was a law student who wanted to be a sports agent. The fourth occupant, Jon Wilhite, survived the wreck. Wilhite is a former catcher for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
The Los Angeles Times identified the third person killed as Henry Pearson, and the car's lone survivor as Jon Wilhite, a former catcher for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
A 21-year-old passenger in the van driven by Gallo was treated for minor injuries, police said.
Fans, some wearing Angels shirts or carrying flowers, gathered at the intersection Thursday, and a shrine of flowers and stuffed animals had started growing outside the entrance to Angel Stadium.
Adenhart's death came just hours after he made his fourth major league start, throwing six scoreless innings in Wednesday night's loss to Oakland.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nick UtNick Adenhart was a passenger in the Mitsubishi that was broadsided; two others were killed, and a fourth is in critical condition.
Adenhart's father, Jim, had flown out from Baltimore to watch the game.
"He summoned his father the day before and he said, 'You better come here because something special's gonna happen,' " said Adenhart's agent, Scott Boras.
After the game, "he was so elated ... he felt like a major leaguer," Boras said, weeping.
Adenhart also is survived by his mother, Janet.
"He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people," the family said in a statement issued through the team.
"The Angels were his extended family. Thanks to all of Nick's loyal supporters and fans throughout his career. He will always be in everyone's hearts forever."
The Major League Baseball Players Association said its members were shaken and saddened about the accident.
"Just hours before the accident, Nick demonstrated his passion for baseball and his prospects for a very bright future when he pitched six scoreless innings for the Angels," the association said in a statement.
“
He had his whole life ahead of him. He's only 22, he's still a kid. He was a great kid, he was funny, he was very popular in the clubhouse and off the field. People loved him. ” -- Angels outfielder Torii Hunter
Adenhart was the Angels' No. 3 starter. Adenhart struggled with a 9.00 ERA in three starts with the Angels last season, but Scioscia said last month the pitcher had worked hard during the winter and arrived at spring training with a purpose.
Angels outfielder Torii Hunter was sleeping when his wife called him, asking whether the news was true. Hunter immediately called the Angels' team trainer, who confirmed that Adenhart had been killed.
"I'm in shock right now," Hunter said. "He just pitched last night. It doesn't seem like this is happening.
"This is real life. This isn't about baseball. This is his whole life, he had his whole life ahead of him. He's only 22, he's still a kid. He was a great kid, he was funny, he was very popular in the clubhouse and off the field. People loved him."
Adenhart, a 6-foot-3, 185-pounder from Silver Springs, Md., was a 14th-round pick in the 2004 draft, and made his major league debut on May 1, 2008, also against the Athletics.
He made two other major league starts, getting his only decision in a victory over the Chicago White Sox on May 12. He was 37-28 in the minor leagues from 2005 to 2008, including 9-13 last year at Triple-A Salt Lake.
The Salt Lake Bees game Thursday night also was postponed.
[+] Enlarge
Courtesy Fullerton Police DepartmentPolice apprehended Andrew Gallo half an hour after he fled the scene of the crash.
He got his break this year with a good spring training and the fact the team needed help in the starting rotation, with John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar all starting on the disabled list.
Adenhart also was a member of the 2006 national team that qualified the United States for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He started one game for Team USA during qualifiers, held in Cuba, earning a no-decision and striking out six batters in an 8-7 win over Brazil.
"One of the highlights of managing for USA Baseball is the opportunity to work with bright, young players who are eager to learn the game. Nick embodied all of those attributes," Davey Johnson, manager of the 2006 team, said. "He was a joy to manage in Cuba and was a key contributor to our success there. This is such a tragedy -- his career was just getting started."
Information from ESPN.com's
Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people were killed early Thursday by a suspected drunk driver just hours after the rookie made his first start of the season.The Angels postponed Thursday night's game with Oakland, and players planned to gather to remember their teammate, manager Mike Scioscia said.
About Adenhart
Nick Adenhart was selected by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2004 draft. At the time of his death, he was the youngest pitcher on a big league roster.• Age: 22 (born Aug. 24, 1986)• MLB debut: May 1, 2008• Career MLB record: 1-0 (4 starts)• Career minor league record: 37-28
"It is a tragedy that will never be forgotten," he said at an Angel Stadium news conference.
Adenhart, 22, from Silver Spring, Md., was a passenger in a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse that was broadsided in an intersection in neighboring Fullerton at about 12:30 a.m. local time by a minivan that apparently ran a red light, police said.
The impact spun around both vehicles, and one then struck a third car, but that driver was not hurt, police said.
The minivan driver fled the crash scene on foot and was captured a half-hour later. Police identified him as Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside, and said he had a suspended license because of a previous drunken driving conviction.Preliminary results indicated Gallo's blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit, police Lt. Kevin Hamilton said, adding that Gallo could face charges including vehicular manslaughter or possibly murder.
Adenhart died in surgery at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. A 27-year-old man in the car and the driver, 20-year-old Courtney Frances Stewart of Diamond Bar, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Steve Phillips says the death of a player during the season can derail a locker room and explains how the Angles will try to pull things together.
More Podcasts »
The Angels said no other members of their organization were involved in the accident. A 24-year-old man who was in the same car as the three killed remained hospitalized in critical condition, police said.Stewart's mother said her daughter and Adenhart had known each other since last season but were not dating as far as she knew, Hamilton said.
The mother said Adenhart and the others had gone dancing at a club about a block away from the crash site, although the crash scene appeared to indicate the car was heading in the direction of the club, Hamilton said.
Stewart died in the crash, along with another occupant of Adenhart's car, Henry Pearson. According to friends of Adenhart at Cal State Fullerton, Pearson was a law student who wanted to be a sports agent. The fourth occupant, Jon Wilhite, survived the wreck. Wilhite is a former catcher for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
The Los Angeles Times identified the third person killed as Henry Pearson, and the car's lone survivor as Jon Wilhite, a former catcher for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
A 21-year-old passenger in the van driven by Gallo was treated for minor injuries, police said.
Fans, some wearing Angels shirts or carrying flowers, gathered at the intersection Thursday, and a shrine of flowers and stuffed animals had started growing outside the entrance to Angel Stadium.
Adenhart's death came just hours after he made his fourth major league start, throwing six scoreless innings in Wednesday night's loss to Oakland.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nick UtNick Adenhart was a passenger in the Mitsubishi that was broadsided; two others were killed, and a fourth is in critical condition.
Adenhart's father, Jim, had flown out from Baltimore to watch the game.
"He summoned his father the day before and he said, 'You better come here because something special's gonna happen,' " said Adenhart's agent, Scott Boras.
After the game, "he was so elated ... he felt like a major leaguer," Boras said, weeping.
Adenhart also is survived by his mother, Janet.
"He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people," the family said in a statement issued through the team.
"The Angels were his extended family. Thanks to all of Nick's loyal supporters and fans throughout his career. He will always be in everyone's hearts forever."
The Major League Baseball Players Association said its members were shaken and saddened about the accident.
"Just hours before the accident, Nick demonstrated his passion for baseball and his prospects for a very bright future when he pitched six scoreless innings for the Angels," the association said in a statement.
“
He had his whole life ahead of him. He's only 22, he's still a kid. He was a great kid, he was funny, he was very popular in the clubhouse and off the field. People loved him. ” -- Angels outfielder Torii Hunter
Adenhart was the Angels' No. 3 starter. Adenhart struggled with a 9.00 ERA in three starts with the Angels last season, but Scioscia said last month the pitcher had worked hard during the winter and arrived at spring training with a purpose.
Angels outfielder Torii Hunter was sleeping when his wife called him, asking whether the news was true. Hunter immediately called the Angels' team trainer, who confirmed that Adenhart had been killed.
"I'm in shock right now," Hunter said. "He just pitched last night. It doesn't seem like this is happening.
"This is real life. This isn't about baseball. This is his whole life, he had his whole life ahead of him. He's only 22, he's still a kid. He was a great kid, he was funny, he was very popular in the clubhouse and off the field. People loved him."
Adenhart, a 6-foot-3, 185-pounder from Silver Springs, Md., was a 14th-round pick in the 2004 draft, and made his major league debut on May 1, 2008, also against the Athletics.
He made two other major league starts, getting his only decision in a victory over the Chicago White Sox on May 12. He was 37-28 in the minor leagues from 2005 to 2008, including 9-13 last year at Triple-A Salt Lake.
The Salt Lake Bees game Thursday night also was postponed.
[+] Enlarge
Courtesy Fullerton Police DepartmentPolice apprehended Andrew Gallo half an hour after he fled the scene of the crash.
He got his break this year with a good spring training and the fact the team needed help in the starting rotation, with John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar all starting on the disabled list.
Adenhart also was a member of the 2006 national team that qualified the United States for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He started one game for Team USA during qualifiers, held in Cuba, earning a no-decision and striking out six batters in an 8-7 win over Brazil.
"One of the highlights of managing for USA Baseball is the opportunity to work with bright, young players who are eager to learn the game. Nick embodied all of those attributes," Davey Johnson, manager of the 2006 team, said. "He was a joy to manage in Cuba and was a key contributor to our success there. This is such a tragedy -- his career was just getting started."
Information from ESPN.com's
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