Minnesota Twins prospect Ryan Costello was found dead on Sunday in his hotel room in New Zealand. He was 23.
The Connecticut native was in New Zealand to play for the Auckland Tuatara of the Australian Baseball League. Preliminary indications suggested Costello died of natural causes, according to multiple reports.
“On behalf of the entire organization, the Twins send their most sincere condolences to Ryan’s family, friends, coaches and teammates,” the Twins said in a press release Monday.
Minnesota Twins
(@Twins)We are saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Ryan Costello. The entire Twins organization sends our most sincere condolences to Ryan’s family, friends, coaches, and teammates. pic.twitter.com/TXwztkmgQA
His ABL team also released a statement. “The Tuatara would like to express their deepest condolences to Ryan’s family back home in the United States and to the whole Minnesota Twins organisation,” the statement read. “Support is being offered to the Tuatara players, who are naturally devastated at the moment.”
Costello was originally drafted in the 31st round of the MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners in 2017, and was traded to Minnesota in July 2018. He split the 2019 season between Class A Fort Myers and Double-A Pensacola, playing 108 games and batting .223 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs. He played primarily at first base and third base.
Costello’s career totals in the minors include a .256 batting average with 43 home runs and 163 RBIs in 280 games.