Tigers Double-A Catcher Chace Numata Dies at 27 After Skateboarding Accident

Minor league catcher Chace Numata, who spent most of the 2019 season with the Detroit Tigers' Double-A affiliate, died Monday, three days after being involved in a skateboarding accident. 

The Tigers released a statement confirming his death:

Police in Erie, Pennsylvania, received a report of an injured man in downtown around 2:15 a.m. Friday and discovered Numata, 27, unconscious and bleeding from his head in the road, according to the Detroit Free Press' Kirkland Crawford, Joe Guillen and Jeff Seidel.

Erie police Sgt. David Stucke told reporters Monday that surveillance footage from the area showed Numata falling off a motorized skateboard.

"It appears he just fell on the skateboard and landed headfirst on the ground," Stucke said. "It appears he was unconscious as soon as he fell. He was knocked out."

Numata made 71 appearances for the Erie SeaWolves, batting .239 with four home runs and 26 RBI. He also played six games for the Toledo Mud Hens, the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate.

SeaWolves hitting coach Brian Harper spoke highly of Numata's impact in the clubhouse over the year: "If you took a poll of the guys, who is your favorite teammate, it would be Chace Numata, 25-0. If you took a poll of the staff, it would be 8-0 Chace Numata."