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Brett Gardner, an outfielder who spent his entire 14-year career with the New York Yankees, and his wife, Jessica, shared the devastating news of the death of their youngest son, Miller, age 14, on Sunday, March 23.
The Gardners released a statement through the team revealing that Miller succumbed to an illness two days earlier after he became sick while the family was on vacation in Central America at a hotel in Costa Rica.
The family said Miller died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21.
Authorities now say he likely died by asphyxiation following "a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food," an official with Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency told NBC News.
Autopsy and toxicology analysis results are pending.
Miller Mack Gardner was an eighth-grade student at Pinewood Preparatory School in South Carolina, where he was a member of the middle school football team and junior varsity baseball team, as well as the school Honor Roll.
Outside of school, his hobbies included golf, fishing, hunting, riding dirt bikes, and traveling to new places with his family, according to his obituary.
"The void Miller's passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years," stated the obituary.
In addition to his parents and older brother Hunter, Miller is survived by his four grandparents, three uncles, four first cousins, and many extended family members "who considered him their own and will miss his smile that brought joy to all," said his obituary.
"Miller's time here with them was brief but his spirit will carry on forever through those who were impacted by the way he lived," stated his family. "Miller was so blessed with experiences and friendships in his 14 years, and he would want other children to have the opportunity to create their own wonderful memories.
"Because of this, the family asks for any memorial donations to be made in Miller's honor to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit helping fulfill wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, at www.wish.org."
Brett Gardner, now 41 years old, played for the Yankees from June 2008 until October 2021. He is a native of Holly Hill, South Carolina.
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