MLB News: Minor-League Pitcher Mourns Tragic Loss of Wife, Son

Baseball took a back seat this week for all involved in the life of Blake Bivens, a Tampa Bay Rays minor-league pitcher whose brother-in-law allegedly killed his wife, 1-year-old son and mother-in-law Tuesday.

Bivens commented publicly for the first time Thursday night in an emotional Instagram post. He said his “heart was turned to ash” and his life “as I know it is destroyed.” Bivens went on to remember his wife, Emily, and son, Cullen, fondly and said he would try to move on from the tragedy even though life will never be the same.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Two days ago my heart was turned to ash. My life as I knew it is destroyed. The pain my family and I feel is unbearable and cannot be put into words. I shake and tremble at the thought of our future without them. Emily, my sweetheart, you are the best wife and mother this world has ever seen. You made me into the man I am today and you loved me with all of my flaws. You brought our precious baby boy into this world and made our family complete. Your love and kindness changed countless lives, including mine. My sweet little boy, dada loves you so much! I can’t breathe without you here. I finally understood what love was when you were born and I would have done anything for you. You have changed my life forever, you are my reason why. I long to hold the both of you again in heaven. I’m so glad you are with all your Great-grandmothers now, I know they are eating you up. This earth did not deserve either of you; you were just too wonderful to comprehend. Joan you were the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. You loved your family more than anyone I’ve ever seen. You raised the most wonderful girl in the world. I’m so glad y’all are still together. You were the best Nana this world has ever seen and I will never forget you. Skip you are a wonderful father and grandfather. We will get through this together as a family. We will not let the devil win! Thank you God for giving me the most wonderful family in the world! I’ve been blessed beyond belief. Thank you to all my family and friends who have reached out to me during this time of sorrow. Thank you @raysbaseball @biscuitbaseball for your support through everything. I am comforted by all the messages and well wishes. I’m not sure what is next for me, but I do know God has a plan even though I can’t see it.

A post shared by Blake Bivens (@blakebbins) on Aug 29, 2019 at 6:55pm PDT

Teammates’ support

Bivens’ teammates with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits supported him the best they could before he returned home to Virginia after hearing the news.

Former Major Leaguer Morgan Ensberg is the Biscuits’ manager.

“It was awful,” Ensberg said, according to the Associated Press. “Blake is an incredibly strong man. He’s an incredibly strong man, and he went through just a rotation of tearing up, and then he would shake and then he would just stare.

Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Blake Bivens said his “heart was turned to ash” when his wife, 1-year-old son and mother-in-law were slain this week. https://t.co/Pr0bBBxux4

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) August 30, 2019

A bizarre crime

The alleged killer is 18-year-old Matthew Bernard. As police chased him around Keeling, Virginia, he emerged naked in front of TV cameras and eluded nearly 100 officers before they finally detained him with pepper spray. Bernard is in jail and on suicide watch, according to the AP.

No matter the nature of the bizarre crime, Bivens must mourn the loss of beloved family members. And the baseball world again must help one of its own through a tragedy.

I don’t even know what to say here. This is in Virginia.😳

This man murdered 2 women & 1 child

Attacked officers while naked

Choked a church groundskeeper

And finally with 100 police officers—was detained alive and unharmedpic.twitter.com/qHO1c0hpZW

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) August 28, 2019