The Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort released a statement after former MLB star Brett Gardner’s son Miller died on their property.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time,” the Costa Rica hotel said in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, March 25. “The factors that led to this tragic incident are unknown, and we are fully cooperating with authorities as they investigate.”
The resort continued, “We remain committed to supporting our guests and staff, prioritizing their well-being and safety, while respecting the privacy of those affected.”
In a statement released by the Yankees via social media on Sunday, March 23, Garnder and his wife, Jessica Clendenin, announced that their youngest son died after “falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation.” Miller died “peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21,” the couple shared.
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Gardner and Clendenin, who also share son Hunter, went on to describe Miller as a “beloved son and brother” who “loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends.” They wrote, “He lived life to the fullest every single.”
The pair’s statement thanked family and friends for their support, as well as shared their prayers to “Miller’s teammates and friends, as well as to all other families who have lost a child far too soon as we share their grief.”
A Costa Rica Judicial Investigation Agency official confirmed to NBC News on Monday, March 24, that Miller died of asphyxia “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food.” An official autopsy and toxicology analysis have yet to be completed following the initial report.
Gardner played solely for the Yankees throughout his 14-season MLB career. He retired from his outfielder position in 2021.
The team offered their condolences to the athlete and his family in a social media statement of their own on Sunday, writing, “We grieve with Brett, Jessica, Hunter, and their community of family and friends in mourning the loss of Miller, who had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature.”
Per the New York Post, Yankees manager Aaron Boone called Miller’s death “unimaginable” while talking to reporters on Sunday, adding, “As best we can, we’ll be praying for the Gardner family and where we can, offering support.”
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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, meanwhile, revealed that his two sons — Adrien, 13, and Andres, 11 — were “pretty close” with Miller during a Sunday press conference.
“I’d like to start by sending my thoughts and prayers to Jessica and Brett Gardner on the loss of his son,” Mendoza, 45, who played with Gardner in the Yankees’ minor league from 2006 to 2007, told press. “Obviously, I had a really good relationship with him. I’m thinking about him and the whole Mets organization are thinking about the Gardner family.”
