The Major League Baseball and put on sackcloth world to know the death of former Japanese star pitcher Hideki Irabu, who was found dead in a suburban residence of Rancho Palos Verdes, a suburb of Los Angeles (California).

Irabu, 42, was found dead by a friend who called the police to take over the body, so far without known causes of death, but the case has been opened as an apparent suicide .

According to information provided by the police, it appears that the former pitcher for the Yankees pulled off the same life.

Irabu lived in Rancho Palos Verdes, a luxury residential suburb, located 35 miles outside of Los Angeles, but has not disclosed whether the body was found in his house, nor were details of the tragic event revealed.

It is hoped that the coroner's office in Los Angeles announced in the coming days the circumstances in which the death occurred after this weekend conducting the autopsy, but the police investigation is already working on the hypothesis of an apparent suicide.

Former Major League driver, Bobby Valentine, currently working as a commentator for ESPN television and gave Irabu in Japan in 1995, said he heard the news with great sadness because he knew the former pitcher and was a great person.

Irabu was considered the Japanese Nolan Ryan in 1997, when he came to America. But after a great debut with the Yankees in the summer of that year, never came close to meeting such expectations.

When his arm was in full power was unique and could not make contact with the ball.

However, Irabu was left with a mark of 34-35 and 5.15 ERA after pitching three seasons with the Yankees, then played two years with the Montreal Expos and missing more as a reliever with the Texas Rangers in 2002.

Irabu played with two teams the Yankees were crowned World Series, but his only action in the postseason was in relief in the NLCS in 1999, when Boston Red Sox hit him 13 hits.

The arrival of Irabu and Hideo Nomo to the majors was very important for other Japanese players follow his example and established themselves as star players.

As has happened with Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners and Hideki Matsui, who currently plays with the Oakland Athletics.