Adenhart's family: No one better than Syndergaard to wear late son's No. 34

Next season, Noah Syndergaard will become the first member of the Los Angeles Angels to wear No. 34 since Nick Adenhart, who died 13 years ago.

And, to Adenhart's family, there's no better candidate.

"We are of the opinion that we think there could be no one better than Noah Syndergaard to wear (the number)," Adenhart's stepfather Duane Gigeous told Sam Blum of The Athletic.

"We appreciate the type of pitcher that he is and the type of competitor that he is. … I think, hopefully, it will spark some conversations," Gigeous added, speaking on behalf of Adenhart's mother and brother as well. "There's a generation of baseball fans who don't know who Nick is and don't know Nick's story."

Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver on April 9, 2009, just hours after starting on the mound for the Angels. Two other people died in the two-car crash.

Adenhart, 22-years-old at the time, went six shutout innings in his final appearance, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out five in his only start in 2009. The right-hander briefly made it to the majors the previous season before earning a rotation spot out of spring training the following year.

Syndergaard, 29, has exclusively worn No. 34 his entire major-league career. The former All-Star signed a one-year, $21-million contract with the Angels earlier this offseason following six seasons with the New York Mets.