GM, manager in DR for Taveras funeral

Oct 27, 2014 - 10:47 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny were in the Dominican Republic for the services of Oscar Taveras, the rising baseball star who died Sunday in a car crash.

Mozeliak said on a conference call that there would be a viewing Monday night followed by services and a burial on Tuesday and described a feeling of loss in the player's native country.

He met Taveras' father in Miami and they flew down to the Dominican Republic together.

"It's very difficult," Mozeliak said. "Last night I had a hard time sleeping, thinking the question 'Why?' Why now?' It's something we'll never know the answer to."

Taveras and his 18-year-old girlfriend were killed instantly when the car he was driving went off the road between Cabarete and Sosua in Puerto Plata, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Mozeliak said officials were still working on information about the crash and an autopsy was said to be performed Monday.

Taveras, a 22-year-old rookie and one of baseball's top offensive prospects, was due to report to the Cardinals' complex in Jupiter, Florida, next week, Mozeliak said.

"He was someone who became an identity with our organization when you think about how much has been written and said about him," Mozeliak said. "He never really got to show that at a major-league level."

It was the third time since 2002 the Cardinals have dealt with the death of a player.

Starting pitcher Darryl Kile died in his sleep of a blocked coronary artery before a game in Chicago in June 2002, and reliever Josh Hancock was killed in an alcohol-related car crash in April 2007.

Mozeliak said his reaction when the team's international director called him about Taveras' death was, "Is this true? Is this possible?" He was "absolutely stunned" and described Matheny's reaction as "silence."

Players and others in the baseball world expressed condolences and shock on Sunday over the loss of the rising slugger.

"Absolute tragedy," Cardinals teammate Matt Carpenter tweeted.

Long the subject of high expectations as he rose through the Cardinals' farm system, Taveras batted .239 in 80 games this season with three home runs and 22 RBI.

One of his biggest moments came just two weeks before his death when he hit a game-tying, pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning to help the Cardinals win Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 12.

His last appearance came in Game 5 on Oct. 16, when he grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth inning and remained in the game to play right field. He was in right when Travis Ishikawa homered into the stands behind him to win the series for San Francisco.

After news of Taveras' death broke during Game 5 of the World Series in San Francisco, MLB commissioner Bud Selig said the Royals and Giants were playing the game with heavy hearts. Players union president Tony Clark said it was "devastating" to lose such a young player.

Mozeliak said Monday there was a feeling off loss in the Dominican Republic, where Taveras was born on June 19, 1992.

"People are aware. Oscar was a big name in this region," Mozeliak said. "A lot of people looked at him as one of the next great players and I think you can tell this area thinks of this as a loss."

Mozeliak said the Cardinals were still working on plans to honor Taveras in St. Louis. The team has set up a page on its website (Cardinals.com/Oscar) where it says fans can offer condolences to Taveras' loved ones.