Long Beach, California – Sean Burroughs, a former MLB first-round draft pick and two-time Little League World Series champion, tragically passed away while coaching his son’s Little League game. Little League International announced the heartbreaking news, stating that Burroughs was only 43 years old at the time of his death. The cause of his passing has not been disclosed to the public yet.
Burroughs, son of 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, rose to fame on the Little League World Series stage, leading Long Beach to back-to-back LLWS titles in 1992 and 1993. His impressive performance during the 1993 championship run included throwing consecutive no-hitters, a first in LLWS history for an American player, and maintaining a stellar .600 batting average at the plate.
Following his success in Little League, the San Diego Padres drafted Burroughs with the ninth overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft out of Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. His MLB career began in 2002 with the Padres, where he hit a walk-off single in the inaugural regular-season game at Petco Park. Over the span of seven seasons in the majors, Burroughs also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins.
Despite battling substance abuse issues that sidelined him from baseball for four years, Burroughs made a significant impact in the MLB, appearing in 528 games and showcasing a .278 batting average. He also contributed to Team USA’s gold medal win at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, solidifying his place in baseball history.
tributes poured in for Burroughs from his former teams and colleagues, highlighting his talent, dedication, and sportsmanship both on and off the field. The baseball community mourns the untimely loss of a beloved player and coach, as cherished memories of Burroughs’ remarkable career live on in the hearts of fans and teammates alike.