Orioles minor leaguer dies in motorcycle accident

The Baltimore Orioles are mourning the death of 23-year-old minor leaguer Ramon Ramirez, who was killed in a motorcycle accident Saturday night in his native Dominican Republic.

Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2014, Ramirez spent the last two seasons patrolling the infield in the lower levels of the Orioles' minor league system. He split time last year between Class A-Advanced Frederick, Class-A Aberdeen, and the Gulf Coast League.

A team official told MASN's Roch Kubato that Ramirez's girlfriend was riding on the back of the motorcycle at the time of the crash, but survived.

"Our entire organization is deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic death of Ramon Ramirez," Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a statement Sunday. "As a member of the Orioles organization, Ramon worked tirelessly to make the most of his opportunity to play professional baseball. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates, and coaches as we mourn this unimaginable loss."

Ramirez's death marks the second time in a week that a minor league player has been involved in a fatal motorcycle accident in the Dominican, following the passing of 20-year-old Houston Astros pitcher Jose Rosario on Jan. 24.