Ex-MLB reliever Reyes Moronta, 31, is killed in a four-wheeler accident near his father's home in his native Dominican Republic

Former Major League relief pitcher Reyes Moronta has been killed in a four-wheeler traffic collision in his native Dominican Republic.

The 31-year-old’s death has been confirmed by his Mexican League team, the Bravos de León. Local reports claim he was riding near his father’s house in the Quinigua neighborhood of Santiago province.

Moronta, whose fastball had been recorded at 100mph, had recently been acquired by Aguilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican league.

The son of a truck-driving father and a cigar-rolling mother, Moronta grew up in a tiny town north of Santiago and attended high school in nearby Villa González, where long-time New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes comes from.

‘We deeply regret the departure of Reyes Moronta,’ read a translated X post from the Bravos de León. ‘We wish family and friends a quick resignation to this news.

‘A hug to heaven.’

Standing less than six feet and over 260 pounds, Moronta was signed to a minor-league deal as a teenager by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 for a mere $15,000.

But it wouldn’t be until 2017 when he would finally reach the big leagues, posting an impressive ERA under 3.00 in each of his first four seasons.

Despite his success, Moronta was forced to sign with the Mexican League’s Diablos Rojos in 2022, until the Los Angeles Dodgers gave him an invitation to spring training.

The remainder of Moronta’s career was spent bouncing from LA to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers before a few more stints in the Mexican League and 1.1 inning of relief with the Anaheim Angels in 2023.

Over parts of six MLB seasons, Moronta posted an impressive ERA of just 3.05.