The family of Frank Castillo, an El Paso native and former Major League Baseball pitcher, has confirmed his death at an Arizona lake on Sunday.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has not yet released the identity of the 44-year-old man believed to have drowned at Bartlett Lake. Divers were still trying to recover the body Monday afternoon.
Castillo's family released a statement to KVIA TV in El Paso:
Frank Castillo died on Sunday in a drowning accident while with his family at a lake near his home. Frank was a wonderful son, terrific brother, and an extraordinary father to his two beautiful girls. Everyone who knew Frank loved Frank. We are devastated by this loss.
There have been only 13 players born in El Paso to make it to baseball's major league. Castillo's 13-year career was the longest among that group, making him one of the city's more notable professional athletes.
The El Paso Times detailed Castillo's playing career, which started at Eastwood High School:
In June 1987, Castillo was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. At the time, Castillo called his drafting "a dream come true." He later went on to play with the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins. During his 13-year career, he had 82 wins and 104 losses, according to his Wikipedia entry. In 2004, Castillo retired from Major League Baseball after receiving a World Series Ring. Three years later, he returned to baseball, albeit in the minor leagues. Recently, Castillo worked as the pitching coach for the Mesa Cubs, a Chicago Cubs farm team in Mesa, Ariz.
The Arizona Republic reports that sheriff's deputies do not believe alcohol was involved, and family and friends of the victim said he was not a good swimmer.