LA Times reporter discusses career of Angels pitcher killed in hit-and-run

Steve Julian spoke with Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times about Los Angeles Angel Nick Adenhart's career after Adenhart was killed last night in a hit-and-run accident.

Steve Julian: Let's talk Nick Adenhart's career.

Mike DiGiovanna: Well, he was 22 years old. He was clearly the organization's top pitching prospect, a guy with a really bright future ahead of him, and if anyone watched the game last night, you could see glimpses of what was to come with this kid.

He threw six shutout innings against the A's, and he just had a great arm, a good personality, a lot of confidence, but not cocky. Just a kid with a twinkle in his eye, and this is clearly one of the, you know, saddest days in an organization that's unfortunately seen too many of these types of days.

Julian: He got into the starting rotation because of injures to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar.

DiGiovanna: Yeah, he wasn't supposed to start the year with the Angels, but he probably was their best pitcher this spring, and once those other guys went down, it pretty much secured a spot for him.

And, you know, the thing sometimes what happens is a kid will get that kind of opportunity and pitch real well and never leave the rotation. So, he was off to a great start last night.

Julian: My sense, Mike, and you and I've met inside the clubhouse in Tempe, Arizona during spring training, my sense is, talking to these guys, they're often humble, and what worries them most is maybe losing a mile or two off their fastball; not somebody running a red light.

DiGiovanna: Yeah, I mean it's just, it's senseless, it's tragic. I mean, I'm still, I'm on my way over to the stadium right now and trying to sort things out. And from what it sounds like, he was just out with a couple of friends, and yeah, exactly what you said earlier, he got broadsided by a drunk driver, and it was just completely random, and just a tragedy.

Julian: Should note that the police say that the person who was driving the van that struck the silver Mitsubishi that Nick and the others were in fled the scene on foot. He was arrested shortly after that and has been charged with vehicular manslaughter. Mike DiGiovanna from the L.A. Times, thanks. We'll talk to you later about this.

DiGiovanna: All right, thanks Steve.

Julian: All right.