Pedro Feliciano, former pitcher for the New York Mets, died on Sunday at age 45. The cause of death was not announced, but baseball analyst Eduardo Perez said that Feliciano died in his sleep, posting on Twitter: “Just found out that former Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano passed away last night in his sleep. He was 45 years young. He was a really good released but a better person off the field. He will be missed. He was jet-skiing yesterday with his family.”
The Mets also issued a statement on the death of Feliciano: “The Mets are so saddened to hear of the loss to their family today. Pedro Feliciano will be remembered as a beloved member of the Mets organization for his impact as a great teammate, as well as his reputation as one of the most competitive, durable and reliable relievers during his time in Queens. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Feliciano family. Rest in peace, Pedro.”
Feliciano suffered a rare genetic heart condition that was first diagnosed in 2013, the final season of his nine-year career, spent exclusively with the Mets. Feliciano joined the Mets in 2002, and in 2006 he became one of the top relief pitchers in the Major Leagues. From 2006-2010, Feliciano appeared in 408 games for the Mets and recorded a 3.08 ERA. Feliciano appeared in 484 games, which is the second most in Mets history behind John Franco (695).
