Nationals Dominican prospect dies in Dominican Republic, Pelotero Dominicano de los Nationals muerte

Washington Nationals Dominican prospect Yewri Guillen died April 14th.  He was living and practicing at the Nationals Dominican academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. It was originally thought that he died of a bacterial meningitis infection, but it has since been shown that the cause of death was a brain infection.

Meningitis can be a major problem for people living in close quarters, such as at a Dominican baseball academy where players and staff live in a dorm type setting.  The Dominican Baseball Guy recalls when he entered college and had to get the meningitis vaccine.

Major League Baseball has determined that the Nationals medical staff took all the necessary steps to prevent the spread of meningitis, even though it turns out that was not the cause.  Always sad to lose such a young man.   Guillen was scheduled to be placed in one of the Nationals minor league teams this summer.

But hopefully something good comes of his death.  The Major League Baseball medical advisory committee recommended that all Dominican Republic academy staff and players receive a meningitis vaccine, a step that frankly should have been taken much sooner.

RIP Yewri Guillen.  The photo really brings home what a sad story this is: a very young man so full of hope.  He was from Nigua, Republica Dominicana.