Former Big Leaguer, O-Royal Giambi Dies at 47

Former major league outfielder Jeremy Giambi, who also starred for the Omaha Royals, has died. 

Giambi died yesterday at his parents’ home in Southern California.  He was 47.  Police said the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death.  TMZ reported that law enforcement sources said officials believe Giambi died by suicide. 

Giambi was a sixth-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals in 1996.  Playing with Omaha in 1998, he won a Pacific Coast League batting title and set a club record with a .372 average, earning the league’s Rookie of the Year Award.  He broke into the big leagues with KC that September and played parts of two seasons with the Royals before being traded to Oakland, where he was teammates with his older brother Jason for two years. 

In six seasons in the Majors, Jeremy Giambi hit .262 with a .377 on-base percentage and 52 home runs.