The Baltimore Orioles are mourning the loss of one of their minor league players after he died in a Jet Ski accident Sunday off Lido Key in Sarasota County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC).
FWC confirmed 19-year-old Luis Guevara, a player in the Orioles minor league system, died Sunday after the Jet Ski accident on June 15.
Investigators said two personal watercraft collided in the water off Lido Key. Four people were thrown into the water and rescued by good Samaritans. Two people on the first Jet Ski sustained minor injuries, and two others, including Guevara, were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Guevara later died of his injuries, according to FWC investigators.
“Luis was a beloved member of our organization, and we are devastated following his tragic passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates, and we ask for their continued privacy during this difficult time,” Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias said.
Guevara was signed by the Orioles as an international free agent out of Tinaco, Venezuela, in January 2023. He appeared in 30 games this year, his first season in the United States, playing in 24 games with Single-A Delmarva, four with the FCL Orioles, and two with Double-A Chesapeake. He spent his first two professional seasons from 2023-24 with the DSL Orioles.
The crash remains under active investigation, FWC said in a statement, adding that a full crash report may be issued upon the conclusion of the investigation. The Orioles have postponed two Florida Complex League games this week in honor of Guevara.
