Minnesota Twins prospect Ryan Costello passes away at 23

The Minnesota Twins prospect had just reached Double-A Pensacola last season but was found dead in a hotel room in New Zeland.

Minnesota Twins prospect Ryan Costello was found dead in a hotel room in Auckland, New Zeland over the weekend, prompting the team to make the somber announcement on Monday morning. The 23-year old outfielder was in New Zeland to play third base for the Auckland Tuatara in the Australian Baseball League and was set to begin play this week.

"“The Minnesota Twins are deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Ryan Costello yesterday in New Zealand,” the team said in a press release this morning. “On behalf of the entire organization, the Twins send their most sincere condolences to Ryan’s family, friends, coaches and teammates.”"

Costello played first base, third base and left field after entering the minor leagues as a 37th round pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft. After just over a year in the Mariners’ system, Costello was shipped to Minnesota in exchange for Zach Duke in the summer of 2018.

Once arriving for the Twins, Costello didn’t have an immediate impact, but still made his way through the organization. After hitting .229 with four home runs and nine RBI for High-A Fort Myers, Costello began the 2019 season with the Miracle before being promoted to Double-A Pensacola midway through the season.

In 40 games for the Blue Wahoos, Costello split his time between first and third base hitting .240 with seven home runs and 21 RBI.

According to Daren Smith of MiLB.com via a statement from the Tuatara, preliminary indications suggest that Costello died of natural causes. Puckett’s Pond extends its sympathies to the Costello family and the Twins organization.