Texas Rangers prospect Bayron Lora injured in fatal car accident

Texas Rangers prospect Bayron Lora was injured in a serious car accident in the Dominican Republic that left one dead.

The Texas Rangers confirmed some rather scary news out of the Dominican Republic on Saturday relating to one of their bright young outfield prospects.

Bayron Lora, an 18-year-old who joined the organization in 2019, was involved in a serious car accident.

“We are aware of the accident involving Bayron Lora and several other individuals today in the Dominican Republic,” the Rangers’ statement said. “We are working to gather more information at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals who were involved in this accident and with their families.”

Rangers prospect Bayron Lora was lucky to emerge from a scary accident

Hector Gomez was the first to report the accident, including stunning photos from the scene.

While Lora was initially described in serious condition, Gomez came through with a welcome update describing Lora as “recovering satisfactorily.”

Unfortunately, according to Gomez, a 23-year-old passenger was killed.

Lora appears to have been well enough to post on Instagram. He dispelled rumors that his wife had been killed in the crash while mourning his deceased friend in a message repeated in Spanish and English.

His social media post confirms many of the reports regarding the accident, most importantly the news that his injuries are not life-threatening.

Lora was picked up for $3.9 million as an international prospect with big expectations. As a 16-year-old, he was ranked third among internationals by MLB.com thanks to his huge frame and strength.

According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rangers scouts graded Lora as the max 80 in terms of power. However, his introduction to MLB was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound righty currently appears at No. 14 on MLB’s prospect rankings for the Rangers.