Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela died of septic shock, medical examiner says
LOS ANGELES — Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace who helped the team win the 1981 World Series, died of septic shock last month, according to his death certificate.
TMZ Sports obtained the document on Tuesday. Valenzuela died on Oct. 22 at age 63, a few weeks after stepping away from his job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast and days before the Dodgers began their run to the team’s eighth World Series championship. No cause of death was provided at the time.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office listed septic shock as the immediate cause of death. It is a life-threatening condition that occurs when organs malfunction, leading to dangerously low blood pressure. Each year, at least 350,000 people in the U.S. die of the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The medical examiner listed decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis as underlying causes. Also listed as a significant condition contributing to Valenzuela’s death was “probable” Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rapidly progressive brain disorder.
The document also shows Valenzuela was cremated. A public Mass was held last week at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.
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Former Dodgers Fan Favorite Justin Turner Discussing Reunion With His Team
The Seattle Mariners are looking to re-sign former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Justin Turner this offseason. Turner joined the Mariners in July after he was traded to Seattle from the Toronto Blue Jays before the deadline.
During the second half of the season with Seattle, the 39-year-old showed he had more left in the tank as he slashed .264/.363/.403 with 42 hits, 22 runs, five home runs, and 24 RBIs over 48 games. Turner, who turns 40 later this month, previously stated his intent to play next season in September.
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander confirmed at the MLB GM Meetings that the team has been in talks with Turner since the season ended.
“We’ve already had discussions with JT and reiterated our interest that we expressed at the end of the season,” Hollander said, via Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
“He’s a player that connected with a lot of different parts of our clubhouse and really did make a connection with our team, with our coaches [and] with our front office,” Hollander said. “We’d love to have JT back.”
Turner previously spent the bulk of his career with the Dodgers, playing for the team from 2014-22. With the Dodgers, Turner rose from initially signing with the team on a minor league contract to signing a four-year, $64 million deal and becoming an MLB All-Star just a few seasons later.
Over his time with the Dodgers, Turner was a two-time MLB All-Star, appeared in three World Series, and became a World Series champion in 2020. In 2017, Turner became the National League Championship Series MVP for the Dodgers as he hit .333 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Turner broke the Dodgers franchise single-postseason RBI record that year.
In addition to his play on the field, Turner emerged as a fan favorite in Los Angeles thanks to his work in the community. Turner and his wife, Kourtney, founded the Justin Turner Foundation, which has served the city of Los Angeles in helping homeless veterans and children fighting diseases. The foundation is partner of the LA Marathon, and January 22, 2019 was named “Justin Turner Day” by the Los Angeles City Council because of his contributions to the community.
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