Former MLB star Julio Lugo has tragically died at the age of 45....
Lugo - the starting shortstop on the Boston Red Sox team that won the 2007 World Series - passed just one day before his 46th birthday, CNN reports.
Lugo passed away on Monday, November 15, from what his family told ESPN reporter Enrique Rojas was a heart attack, however, the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Lugo was a hero in Boston's four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in 2007 that brought home the team's seventh World Series title overall and its second in four seasons.
He batted .385 in the four games, well above his regular-season average of .237, to help fuel the sweep.
The Red Sox shared news of his death on Monday, writing on Twitter: "The Red Sox mourn the loss of former shortstop and 2007 World Series Champion Julio Lugo. We send our thoughts and love to the Lugo family."
He played for several teams across a 12-year career, including three years with the Red Sox, one year with the St. Louis Cardinals, and four years apiece for the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays.
The Cardinals and the Rays also tweeted their condolences after hearing the sad news of Lugo's passing.
"We are saddened over the passing of Julio Lugo. Lugo played for the Cardinals in 2009 during his 12-year MLB career. Our condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends," The Cardinals wrote on Twitter.
While the Tampa Bay Rays wrote: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Devil Rays shortstop Julio Lugo. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time."
The Baltimore Orioles wrote: "We join the rest of our baseball family in mourning the loss of Julio Lugo. We extend our condolences to his family and many friends throughout the game."
Former players also took to social media to offer their condolences.
Will Middlebrooks, a former Red Sox third baseman, said he met Lugo during spring training in 2008 with the minor league Lowell Spinners.
"He spent some time with us young kids in Ft. Myers during a rehab assignment. He taught us a lot about infield routines and how to be a professional," he tweeted.
Outfielder Josh Reddick tweeted that Lugo helped him early in his career "with my routine and to stick to it regardless of outcome."
.jpg_cAKxFv?tr=h-184)
.jpg_LAqQrJ?tr=h-184)
