=( Really hoping this source is mistaken or unreliable, haven't been able to corroborate anything. **UPDATE** Now CONFIRMED by the Chronicle: https://www.chron.com/sports/astros...ielder-Luis-Valbuena-dies-in-car-13449049.php
Don't remember Castillo's 15 games with the Stros, but always liked Valbuena. He was having a very good year when he ripped his hammy in '16. Apparently they wrecked trying to avoid a rockslide while driving home after a winter league game.
Those foreign ball players need to just move out here in the offseason. This seems to happen every off season.
Really sad news this morning. I very much enjoyed Val when he was here and I thought we should've re-signed him to play 1B primarily. I thought his defense was worth the Ks and I loved the attitude. He fit in that clubhouse very well. I know he didn't do much with Anaheim and hadn't been picked up since they released him...which was surprising to me. He was seemingly a good guy who could defend multiple positions and hit for power. Rest in peace, Val.
They go where the baseball is: mostly Venezuela and the Dominican. Plus they get to go home for a few months.
Valbuena had some great moments in his short time with the Astros, he was a big part of our improbable playoff appearance in 2015. The walkoff against the A's was great, but my favorite Valbuena moment was his 2 run HR in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS. This was fresh off the Game 4 meltdown, and spirits were very low. Luis stepped in and smashed that ball, springing us to life again. I know we lost that game, but it showed the world that we would not just wilt away, and it set the stage for the Astros beating down the door as contenders for the years to come.
