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Sean Burroughs, a Little League Baseball legend who grew up to have a rocky career in the Major Leagues, died unexpectedly at the age of 43 on May 10. After two months of investigation, authorities have revealed the cause of his death.
In 1992, at age 12, Burroughs won his first championship in the Little League World Series, and he repeated the feath in 1993, also becoming the first American pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters in the contest.
Although he initially signed to play in the NCAA with the University of Southern California, Burroughs decided to make the jump to the Major Leagues. He was the ninth overall pick in the 1998 draft by the San Diego Padres.
On May 10, Burroughs was found unresponsive next to his car in the parking lot of a Little League baseball field in Long Beach, California, after dropping his son off at a game. Friends of the player found him and notified emergency services, but to no avail.
Cause of death of Sean Burroughs
Family members initially reported that Burroughs had died of cardiac arrest. However, this week, the Los Angeles County medical examiner reported that the cause of death was a fentanyl overdose.
Although Burroughs battled addiction since his Major League days, no foul play is suspected in his death. Authorities have declared it an accidental death.
He is survived by his son Knox, his mother Debbi, and his father Jeff Burroughs, a former Major League player in the 1980s.
Burroughs' career
Sean Burroughs debuted in the MLB as an infielder for the Padres in April 2002 and delivered the first walk-off hit in Petco Park's history in 2004. He temporarily retired in 2007 and returned to play in 2011 before retiring permanently in 2012. In addition to the Padres, he played for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Minnesota Twins.
He won Olympic gold with the United States team in Sydney 2000 and had appearances as an extra in television series such as "Knots Landing," "Saved by the Bell," and the film "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."