Braves newcomer Sean Rodriguez and his family were involved in a serious car accident in Miami on Saturday that reportedly left his two children in serious but stable condition as of Sunday night.
Rodriguez, 31, who signed a two-year free-agent contract in November, was driving an SUV that police said was T-boned by a stolen police cruiser in an accident before 2 p.m. Saturday that killed the driver of the stolen car and left Rodriguez’s wife, Giselle, and two young children with injuries that required hospitalization, Miami TV station WSVN reported.
Rodriguez escaped injury, while Giselle was listed in fair condition at Kendall Regional Medical Center and the children were in serious condition at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital on Sunday.
On Monday, Giselle Fernandez posted on her Twitter account that she had a broken tibia and femur and would have wrist surgery Tuesday. She indicated that only one of the children remained hosptitalized.
“Thank you all for prayers!” she wrote in another Tweet. “Please Please continue to pray for us! Gogo is still in the hospital with thankfully only stitches and a cast.” (Gogo is the nickname of one of their children.)
The Braves said in a brief statement Sunday night, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the health and well-being of Sean Rodriguez and his family as they recover from a car accident in Miami.”
Braves general manager John Coppolella reiterated early Monday that the only thing the Braves were concerned with was the health of the Rodriguez family.
WSVN reported that the stolen police car burst into flames after crashing into the side of the Chevy Suburban driven by Rodriguez.
Miami police said the driver of the police cruiser stole it from an officer near Southwest 16th Street and 107th Avenue in West Miami-Dade County. Shortly after driving off in the stolen vehicle, he lost control, sideswiped another car and then hit the vehicle carrying the Rodriguez family. The couple has four children.
Rodriguez, a Miami native, signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Braves after a career-best 2016 season as a “super utility” player with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played seven different positions in 2016 and was likely to be the Braves’ primary second baseman to start the 2017 season, or share duties with Jace Peterson until prospect Ozzie Albies is ready. Rodriguez might also play plenty at third base and be a backup at first base and the outfield.
He had career-highs in most offensive categories in 2016 including batting average (.270), home runs (18), RBIs (56), on-base percentage (.349) and slugging percentage (.510) in his ninth season and second with Pittsburgh.
