Astros prospect Jose Rosario dies in motorcycle accident

The Houston Astros announced Monday that Jose Rosario, a 20-year-old pitching prospect in the organization, died in a motorcycle accident Sunday night in the Dominican Republic.

"Jose was a beloved member of the Astros Latin American program. He will be remembered as a long, lanky-framed pitcher with tremendous ability, an outgoing personality and an ever-positive disposition," Astros director of international Oz Ocampo said in a statement released by the team.

Rosario, a 6-foot-6 right-hander from the Dominican Republic, was signed by the Astros as an 18-year-old free agent in 2013, and spent the last two seasons in the club's minor-league system. He went 4-6 with a 4.40 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings last season, split between the Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast League.

"He was a true student of the game and was constantly looking to learn and improve his abilities," Ocampo continued. "He was also a supportive teammate, as he made it a point to encourage his fellow Astros and deliver that message with a smile on his face. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Rosario family."