Former Central Connecticut State graduate and Minnesota Twins minor leaguer Ryan Costello passed away in New Zealand on Nov. 18, according to sources. The 23-year-old had just arrived in New Zealand to play for the Auckland Tuatara, a baseball team in the Australian Baseball League.
While preliminary tests and results have produced natural causes as the reason for Costello’s passing, the situation is very unfortunate nonetheless. Having played at the Single-A and Double-A levels for the Twins in 2019, Costello had developed a penchant for his kindness and ability to show up in clutch moments on the field, as his home run helped push the Single-A For Myers Miracle to the FSL Championship in 2018.
Costello just had arrived the prior week to New Zealand to join the Tuatara team, and his no. 15 jersey will be remembered for his brief time with the team. The Twins, Miracle, Tuatara, and the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos all put out brief statements and showed their appreciation and condolences for Costello’s passing on Twitter.
We are saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Ryan Costello. The entire Twins organization sends our most sincere condolences to Ryan's family, friends, coaches, and teammates. pic.twitter.com/TXwztkmgQA
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) November 18, 2019
We were very sad to learn the news about the passing of former Miracle infielder Ryan Costello this morning. His home run helped lift the Miracle to the FSL Championship in 2018. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the entire Twins organization. pic.twitter.com/aSIkk4sZ4C
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) November 18, 2019
— Auckland Tuatara Baseball (@AucklandTuatara) November 18, 2019
With great sadness, we remember a ballplayer whose talent on the field was only exceeded by his kindness off of it. pic.twitter.com/v9rR0Fpzub
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) November 18, 2019
We are all giving our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to Costello’s family, friends and his teammates at this time. A teammate of Costello’s in the Twins’ minor league system, outfielder Mark Contreras, helped set up a GoFundMe page to help his family deal with the costs of his funeral.
The verified page can be found here, where you can go and contribute as little or as much as you would like to help pay for Costello’s funeral.
The goal of $15,000 has already been reached, but the family is still welcoming in donations to help offset any costs.