Fernando Valenzuela, former MLB pitching phenom, dies at 63

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Fernando Valenzuela, who took the baseball world by storm in 1981, has died at the age of 63.

Valenzuela, who started his career as a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was battling health conditions when he passed away Tuesday. 

He won the National League’s honors as both the Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year in 1981. He also helped the Dodgers win the World Series title over the New York Yankees that season.

Valenzuela died Tuesday after battling health conditions. He was 63.

DODGERS GREAT FERNANDO VALENZUELA HOSPITALIZED WITH HEALTH COMPLICATIONS: REPORTS

Fernando Valenzuela prepares to throw out the first pitch during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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This comes just three days before the Dodgers and Yankees meet in the World Series for the 12th time, and the first since Valenzuela was a hero in the 1981 Fall Classic.

The Dodgers made an official announcement Tuesday night of Valenzuela’s passing but did not state the cause of his death.

The Mexican-born Valenzuela pitched in Major League Baseball for 17 seasons and then became the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcaster in 2003. He recently stepped away to "focus on his health," the team said.

He was born in Navojoa, Mexico, and quickly worked his way into the majors, getting called up as a relief pitcher late in the 1980 season as a 20-year-old.

In 1981, just after Dodgers starter Jerry Reuss was injured the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda tasked Valenzuela with making the first MLB