Nick Adenhart

Nick Adenhart
A side view of a young man in a baseball uniform, cap, and glove as he is about to throw a baseball off a pitcher's mound in a stadium. A uniformed umpire in the background looks on as the man has one foot nearly off the mound and the baseball behind his head.
Adenhart pitching for the Salt Lake Bees in 2008
Pitcher
Born: (1986-08-24)August 24, 1986
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Died: April 9, 2009(2009-04-09) (aged 22)
Orange, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2008, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Last MLB appearance
April 8, 2009, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
MLB statistics
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average6.00
Strikeouts9
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Nicholas James Adenhart (August 24, 1986 – April 9, 2009) was an American right-handed baseball starting pitcher who played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In just four career games, Adenhart pitched 18 innings and posted a win-loss record of 1–0.

A graduate of Williamsport High School, Adenhart was highly touted as a high school prospect until an injury in his final game required Tommy John surgery. The Angels drafted him in the 14th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft, and began playing in their minor league system after the surgery was a success. He spent three full seasons in the minor leagues before making his major league debut on May 1, 2008. After appearing in three games, Adenhart spent the rest of 2008 in the minor leagues developing his skills, and in 2009 he earned a spot in the Angels' starting rotation.

Just after pitching his first start of 2009, Adenhart was killed in a collision with a drunk driver. Both the Angels and the Salt Lake Bees, for whom Adenhart played in 2008, suspended their next games. There were many tributes to him throughout the season, including his former teammates celebrating him by spraying champagne and beer on one of his jerseys after they clinched the 2009 American League West division championship.