April 1^st, 2012: Trenton, NJ – We begin the evening with troubling news for New Jersey sports fans.  Hitmen outfielder Daniel Ríos was found dead in his home today, two days before the team’s season opener at home against the Gloucester Fisherman.  Ríos was late to arrive at the stadium for batting practice today.  According to team officials, attempts to contact Ríos at home were unsuccessful, so a trainer was sent to check on him in his Trenton home.  Upon arrival, the trainer made the grisly discovery and immediately contacted the police.

The Trenton police department has so far withheld any information about the cause of death.  Whether Ríos’s death is being considered a suicide or a homicide is also not known, as further investigations needed to be done.  Ríos’s wife was out of town working with one of their various charities in New York, Mission NYC, when the death was reported to have occurred.

Our prayers go out to the Ríos family and the New Jersey Hitmen for the loss of the quiet leader of the team.  General Manager Michael Czosnyka was not available for immediate comment, but Manager Tracy Evans said that this year would be played in the memory of Ríos.  A moment of silence will be observed before the start of the opener against the Fisherman on Tuesday.