Former MLB player Jeremy Giambi, who passed away at age 47 earlier this week, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Los Angeles medical examiner said.
It had previously been determined that Giambi died by suicide. Law enforcement was reportedly called to Giambi’s parents’ Southern California home at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday to find him deceased.
Giambi’s agent, Joel Wolfe, said in a statement Wednesday that the family requested privacy.
A first baseman and outfielder, Giambi had a six-year MLB career in which he played for the Royals, Athletics, Phillies and Red Sox. He had a lifetime .263 batting average and 52 home runs, but is best known for being on the receiving end of Derek Jeter’s flip play in the 2001 ALDS, getting tagged out at home when he failed to slide. That helped swing Game 3 of the series towards the Yankees, who were down 2-0 and went on to beat Oakland in five games.
Jeremy’s brother, Jason, played with him for two seasons in Oakland and was later a first baseman for the Yankees.
Jeremy Giambi was later implicated in the BALCO scandal, saying in the Kansas City Star that he used steroids. He was also depicted in the 2011 film “Moneyball” by Nick Porrazzo.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi,” the A’s wrote on Twitter at the news of his death. “We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends.”
— Additional reporting by Marjorie Hernandez