The baseball world was stunned and saddened when Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend died in October following a car crash in the Dominican Republic. Taveras, who was just 22, was reportedly drunk at the time of the crash. His girlfriend, Edilia Arvelo, was just 18.
Carlos Martinez has already received permission to wear No. 18 next season in remembrance of his friend and former teammate, but the Cardinals also reportedly have some plans in memory of Taveras:
#stlcards players to wear arm patch on sleeve with "OT" this season. No #18 since Carlos Martinez will be wearing it.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 17, 2015
Bill De Witt Jr. announced Cardinals Care will fund the development of a youth ball field in Oscar Taveras' hometown of Sosua, DR. #stlcards
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 17, 2015
These are nice gestures on the part of the Cardinals, but it doesn’t make the situation any less sad. It was a terrible tragedy which could have been avoided.