Longtime ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez dead at 58

Longtime ESPN baseball reporter Pedro Gomez died Sunday at 58 years old. 

Gomez covered baseball for ESPN for more than 30 years, making regular reports and appearances on flagship programs like “Baseball Tonight,” “Sunday Night Baseball” and “SportsCenter.”

“We are shocked and saddened to learn that our friend and colleague Pedro Gomez has passed away,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Pedro was an elite journalist at the highest level and his professional accomplishments are universally recognized. More importantly, Pedro was a kind, dear friend to us all. Our hearts are with Pedro’s family and all who love him at this extraordinarily difficult time.”

The sports network noted Gomez leaves behind a wife, Sandra; sons, Rio and Dante; and daughter, Sierra.

Rio Gomez is a pitcher in the Boston Red Sox farm system. 

“Our hearts go out to the Gomez family,” the Red Sox said in a tweet on Sunday evening. 

Pedro Gomez’s parents immigrated to Cuba before he was born, and he was part of the ESPN team covering a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cuban national team in Havana in 2016. Gomez returned his father’s and brother’s ashes to the family home, the network reported.

He was based on the West Coast and was well known for his coverage of Barry Bonds’s pursuit of the career home run record from 2004 to 2007.

Condolences poured in for Gomez from around the baseball world on Sunday night. 

We are shocked and saddened by the passing of national baseball reporter Pedro Gomez. He was 58. pic.twitter.com/FVlcocprIh

— MLB (@MLB) February 8, 2021

We are saddened by the passing of our friend Pedro Gomez. He was a fixture in the A’s clubhouse, covering the club for the San Jose Mercury News (1990-94) and Sacramento Bee (1995-97). Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. We’ll miss you, Pedro. pic.twitter.com/NLNhUK3WW0

— AthleticsPR (@AthleticsPR) February 8, 2021

RIP my friend this is very sad news for me and my family. This was our friendship. Laughing having a good time. The game lost a good one thank you for always having my back. Te vamos extrañar pic.twitter.com/2wEWgfYAMY

— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) February 8, 2021

Heartbreaking news. Always enjoyed the conversations every time he’d come through the clubhouse. He’ll be missed by all. Prayers with his family https://t.co/ITpmqY2JpJ

— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) February 8, 2021