Ex-Dodgers minor leaguer dies at 26

Jonathan Figueroa, once a highly regarded pitcher in the Dodgers organization, passed away earlier this month at age 26. He had been diagnosed with Lupus, according to reports.

The Dodgers signed Figueroa at age 18 out of Venezuela, giving him $500,000 bonus in 2002. Baseball America named him the No. 2 prospect in the organization, but the left-hander struggled after that and advanced as high as Single-A Vero Beach.

He was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in 2007, his sixth season in the organization. He was released the following year and last pitched for the independent league Lincoln Saltdogs.