Yoervis Medina, a right-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners in a three-year major league career, has died. He was 37.
The Cardenales de Lara, a Venezuelan Winter League team for whom Medina pitched from 2010-18, announced on social media that Medina died Thursday.
Nota de duelo.#SomosUno🆑 pic.twitter.com/iMjWgglsh5
— Cardenales de Lara (@CardenalesDice) October 31, 2025
Lider en Deportes, citing multiple reports, reported that Medina suffered a heart attack while driving a vehicle, which resulted in a collision with another car that took his life.
Medina went 10-9 with a 3.08 ERA (121 ERA+) in 146 games for the Mariners (2013-15) and Cubs (2015). Listed at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Medina threw a heavy sinker that averaged 95.8 mph during his prime according to Statcast, as well as a curveball and a four-seamer.
More news: Former Phillies, Orioles Pitcher Dies
The Mariners signed Medina as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela on July 25, 2005. After toiling in the minors for seven years, with teams from Venezuela to the Pacific Northwest, Medina made his debut with the Mariners in April 2013.
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 17: Catcher David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with closing pitcher Yoervis Medina #33 after the Cubs defeated the Cle… | Jason Miller/Getty Images/Yoervis Medina and David Ross
Medina’s last stint with an affiliated team was with the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2016. He was released from his minor league contract in July of that year after making only three appearances.
Since then, Medina had pitched in Venezuela, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Nicaragua as he extended his career abroad.
Senadores de Caracas B.B.C. lamenta profundamente el fallecimiento de Yoervis Medina, quien defendió nuestro uniforme en la temporada 2021, siendo tomado en la ronda 9 del primer draft de la LMBP.
Nuestras más sinceras condolencias a sus familiares y amigos.
Descansa en paz 🕊 pic.twitter.com/2rOj3Jt9Je
— Senadores de Caracas 🏛 (@senadores_bbc) October 31, 2025
In total, Medina pitched professionally for 17 seasons, according to Baseball Reference.
A number of Medina’s former teams posted messages of condolence to their social media accounts Friday.
La organización Águilas del Zulia lamenta el sensible fallecimiento de Yoervis Medina. Paz a su alma. pic.twitter.com/0EgqeWAgbd
— Águilas del Zulia (@aguilasdelzulia) October 31, 2025
“The Águilas del Zulia organization mourns the passing of Mr. Yoervis Medina, who was a member of our team during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons,” the Venezuelan club wrote on Twitter/X. “We join in prayer for the eternal rest of his soul and express our deepest condolences to his family and friends, asking God to grant them comfort and strength during this difficult time.
