Chace Numata
Chace Numata, a 27-year-old catcher who played for a Detroit Tigers Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves in Pennsylvania, died Monday after serious injuries Friday from a skateboarding accident, the team confirmed.
Numata was rushed to a hospital early Friday after he was found injured in downtown Erie, Pa., the website GoErie.com reports.
On Monday, the Tigers issued a statement:
It is with deep sorrow that the Numata Ohana announces that Chace Kekoa Kenji Numata, our beloved son, brother and a friend to all, has passed away on Sept. 2, 2019.
Chace was a 27-year-old, switch-hitting catcher from Pearl City, Hawaii, that was blessed with the opportunity to professionally play the sport he loved for the Phillies, Yankees and Tigers organizations for over 10 seasons.
Everyone who was around Chace knew there was never a stranger in the room when he was there. It didn’t matter if you were a professional athlete or young child, he made sure to make everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. His smile was contagious, unrelenting and never-ending, while his personality could light up any environment he would be in.
The SeaWolves started a GoFundMe page for the family, and as of Monday night, had raised more than $30,000.
