Former Pirates Relief Pitcher Scott Sauerbeck Dies at 53

Scott Sauerbeck, a relief pitcher who was a Rule 5 Draft pick and spent five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has died. He was 53.

Sauerbeck suffered a fatal heart attack on Tuesday in Bradenton, Fla.

The left-hander made his major-league debut for the Pirates in 1999 after being drafted from the New York Mets the previous winter. Sauerbeck appeared in 341 games for the Pirates before being traded to the Boston Red Sox during the 2003 season.

Sauerbeck then moved on to the Cleveland Indians (2005-06) and Oakland Athletics (2006), finishing his seven-year career with a 20-17 record, five saves and a 3.82 ERA in 471 relief appearances.

The Mets selected Sauerbeck in the 23rd round of the 1994 amateur draft from Miami (Ohio).

Scott William Sauerbeck was born in Cincinnati on Nov. 9, 1971.