Remembering Nick Adenhart, 1986-2009

What they're saying around baseball about Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed in an automobile crash just hours after his first start of the season:

• “He felt like a major leaguer.” - Adenhart's agent, Scott Boras, choking back tears in a news conference.
• "From a very young age, he was the best. In Washington County, from the time he was 9 or 10, everybody knew who he was. The hardest part about this is that he was the kind of guy you always wanted around. He always had your back. As talented as he was, he was just one of the guys, real down-to-earth." - David Warrenfeltz, who grew up with Adenhart, to the Baltimore Sun.
• "He pitched so well. I was out there pumping him up every inning. It's hard because he had a smile from ear to ear. He was so excited to show the organization and the fans that he belongs in the major leagues. And then now it's all over." - Angels teammate Torii Hunter, to MLB.com.
• “Last year he had all the talent in the world but couldn’t figure it out. Then he figures it out and six hours later he’s gone.” - Mets pitcher Darren O'Day, a friend of Adenhart's when both played in the Angels system, to the New York Times.
• "You think of a young man who realizes his dream and pitches six shutout innings, and drives home and is gone. Life is not supposed to be like that. I didn't even know the kid and it's hard for me. He's just a little boy who dreamed about playing in the big leagues." - Yankees manager Joe Girardi, to MLB.com
• "It's just surreal. I think the first thing I thought of is that I wish I would have talked to him more recently. I played with him on that team in Cuba (on the 2006 Olympic qualifying team) and we were the two youngest guys so we hung out together a lot, went out together. He was great, a great guy." - Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey, to MLB.com.
• "His growth as a person over the last four years is something we're very proud of with him. It was a privilege to watch, and his family should be very proud. He was an outstanding young man." - Angels manager Mike Scioscia, in a news conference.