Former MLB Player Sean Burroughs Dies at 43 While Coaching Son

Long Beach, Calif. – The Long Beach community mourns the loss of Sean Burroughs, a retired third-baseman who played for multiple MLB teams, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 43, according to various reports.

Burroughs, the ninth-overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft, suffered a cardiac arrest while coaching his son’s Little League game at Stearns Champions Park in Long Beach. Despite efforts to revive him, Long Beach Little League confirmed his passing.

“We will have his family in our thoughts and prayers during this time and try to end the season playing the kind of baseball Coach Sean would be proud of,” stated the league.

Burroughs, a former Long Beach Little League player himself, led his team to two LLWS titles and achieved the rare feat of throwing back-to-back no-hitters, under the guidance of his father, Jeff Burroughs, a former American League MVP with the Texas Rangers.

Drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1998, Burroughs made his mark with a game-winning single in his MLB debut. His career later took him to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins, where he clinched a gold medal in the Sydney Olympic Games.

Despite his on-field success, Burroughs faced personal struggles with drugs and alcohol, leading to a hiatus from the game. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed remorse for the time he lost away from baseball but acknowledged it as part of his story.

“A lot of things I, obviously, wish I could have changed, but, obviously, I can’t change the past,” he said in a 2011 interview with FOX Sports.

Burroughs concluded his major league career with a lifetime batting average of .278, 12 home runs, and 142 RBIs over 528 games. Following retirement, he returned to Long Beach Little League to coach his son, continuing his passion for the sport.

A candlelight vigil will be held at Stearns Champions Park tonight May 11th at 7pm.