Tragic news struck as Sean Burroughs, a former infielder for the Diamondbacks, passed away at the age of 43 after collapsing while coaching his son’s little league team last Thursday. Burroughs, son of the 1974 American League MVP Jeff Burroughs, was chosen ninth overall by the San Diego Padres in the 1998 MLB Draft following an impressive amateur career. He made his MLB debut on April 2, 2002, compiling a .278 batting average with 12 home runs and a .690 OPS over 528 games.
Former MLB Infielder Sean Burroughs, the former first-round draft pick who played parts of seven MLB seasons, collapsed and died Thursday while coaching his son's Little League team. He was just 44.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 10, 2024
Despite initial setbacks and struggles to meet the high expectations placed upon him as a top draft pick, Burroughs orchestrated a remarkable comeback story in his career. Following a hiatus from professional baseball and a period of homelessness in Las Vegas, he turned his life around and successfully returned to the majors for a couple of seasons.
Signing a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks ahead of the 2011 season, Burroughs began with Triple-A Reno after failing to secure a spot in the major league roster during spring training. However, his outstanding performance in Reno, batting .412 in 34 games, earned him a call-up to the big leagues. During his tenure with the Diamondbacks, he played in 78 games and maintained a .273 batting average with one home run. That home run marked the final highlight of his MLB career.
