Oscar Taveras, Outfielder for the Major League Baseball's (MLB) St. Louis Cardinals, died in a car accident Saturday in his native country, the Dominican Republic.

Taveras was only 22-years old, and, as a slugger, was considered one of the top prospects of the league.

Taveras was driving his 2014 Chevrolet Camaro on a highway between the beaches of Sosua and Cabarete in Puerto Plata, about 215 miles north of Santo Domingo.

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Colonel Diego Pesqueira of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency said that Taveras was not carrying any identification documents when they found him after the accident. His family members were able to identify the body.

National Police Spokesman Jacobo Mateo Moquete quoted the mayor of Sousa as saying that Taveras had lost control of his car and crashed off the road. Taveras' girldfriend Edilia Arvelo, 18-years old, was also in the car at the time of the accident and was also killed.

As news of Taveras' death spread around, several members of the Cardinals community were deeply saddened by the loss. Among them was Cardinals Manager John Mozeliak.

"I first met Oscar when he was 16 years old and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest," he said.

His teammates, including pitcher Pat Nashek and second baseman Kolten Wong, also expressed their sadness through social media.

Taveras signed with the Cardinals in 2008, when he was only a teenager. He was an exceptional international free agent at only 16 years old.

He made his major league debut this year, hitting .239 with three homeruns and 22 RBI's in his last 80 games for the NL Central Champions.

Coming into this season, he was ranked as the number three prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America. 

TagsOscar Taveras, St. Louis Cardinals, car accident