ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 16, 1990                   TAG: 9005160067
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.                                LENGTH: Medium


ENLARGED HEART LIKELY CAUSED PITCHER'S DEATH

An enlarged heart was the likely cause for the death of minor-league pitcher Ronaldo Romero, according to a preliminary report issued Tuesday by the North Carolina Medical Examiner's office.

Romero, 19, who played for the Gastonia Rangers of the Class A South Atlantic League, collapsed in the dugout during the third inning of Monday night's game at Fayetteville's J.P. Riddle Stadium. After efforts to revive him failed, he was pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m., about 90 minutes later, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Romero, from Barranquilla, Colombia, was in his third year with the Texas Rangers' organization and was the starting pitcher in Monday's game.

Romero's body was sent to Chapel Hill, where the autopsy was performed Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Thomas Clark, associate chief medical examiner, performed the autopsy. The report said Clark's findings showed "a greatly enlarged heart, indicating a dilated cardiomyopathy is present. This condition is associated with sudden death and is the most likely cause of death in this case."

Cumberland County Medical Examiner Dr. Hal Henschen, who ordered the autopsy, said he understood Romero may have been taking caffeine in some form before the game.

Henschen also said a bag containing four white tablets, apparently found in Romero's possession, was sent to Chapel Hill for analysis. The preliminary autopsy report contained no information about the tablets.

At a news conference Tuesday at Riddle Stadium, Gastonia trainer Tom Tisdale said players were routinely given a nonprescription medication called Supac. He added that the players had to request the medication and were limited to two tablets per day.

Tisdale said Romero did not ask him for any tablets Monday. "If he got them, I don't know where they came from."

Marty Scott, director of player development for the Texas organization, said the Rangers conduct thorough physical and drug examinations on all their players regularly and never had found a problem with Romero.

"We have an extensive EKG, complete physical and blood work each spring training," Scott said, who added Romero's most recent test was in March and showed no sign of a possible heart problem.

As far as drug use is concerned, Scott said the Rangers conduct random tests and have not had a player test positive at any level of their organization in the past three years.

"Ronaldo knew the major leagues was his ticket out of the problems of his homeland and the poverty of his family," Scott said. "The organization last night not only lost a fine prospect, but a friend as well."

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

Signed as a free agent by Texas organization in 1987, Romero was 2-0 with a 1.35 earned run average this season. He was 5-5 with a 4.82 ERA at Gastonia in 1988. He had allowed three earned runs in two innings Monday.

Monday's game, suspended in the third inning with Fayetteville leading 7-0, is scheduled to be completed May 23.



 by CNB