Dodgers' legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela passes away at 63.

 Fernando Valenzuela, the driving force behind "Fernandomania" and the recipient of the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, has passed away at the age of 63. His remarkable achievements contributed to the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series that year.

The Dodgers confirmed that Valenzuela died Tuesday night at a hospital in Los Angeles, although they did not disclose the cause of death or additional details.

Valenzuela’s death comes just as the Dodgers are set to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Valenzuela would be honored during the Series at Dodger Stadium.

After a 17-year career in Major League Baseball, Valenzuela transitioned to a Spanish-language broadcasting role with the Dodgers starting in 2003. He had recently stepped away from his broadcasting duties to focus on his health, according to the team.

Valenzuela burst onto the scene late in the 1980 season as a reliever. Born in Navojoa, Mexico, he captured the baseball world’s attention during the strike-shortened 1981 season. When Jerry Reuss was injured just before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda handed the ball to the then-20-year-old Valenzuela, who had never started a major league game before. He made an immediate impact, winning his first game against the Houston Astros and beginning the season with an impressive 8-0 record, including five shutouts and a remarkable 0.50 ERA.

Reflecting on that pivotal moment in 2023, Valenzuela recalled, "Tommy Lasorda came up to me and said, 'Are you ready to pitch tomorrow?' I said, 'I'm ready.' That's what I was looking for, the opportunity to show what I can do."

Valenzuela's unique pitching style, characterized by his glance skyward during his windup and his signature screwball—a pitch taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo—made him a fan favorite. The tune "Fernando" by ABBA often played during his warmups, drawing large crowds of Latino fans to see "El Toro," as he was affectionately known.

Although he has not yet been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, several of Valenzuela's artifacts, including a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990, are displayed in Cooperstown. Hall of Fame Dodgers Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrin remarked in 2023, "His charisma was unbelievable. He came to the major leagues after just a few weeks in Double-A, and he was just amazing. The people fell in love with him."

Valenzuela finished the 1981 season with a 13-7 record, a 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games, and 8 shutouts. He led the National League with 192⅓ innings pitched and topped the majors with 180 strikeouts, making history as the first player to win both the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season. This remarkable year marked the beginning of six consecutive All-Star appearances.

Valenzuela continued to excel, finishing third in Cy Young voting in 1982 and fifth in 1985. However, a shoulder injury later impacted his career. He won another World Series title with the Dodgers in 1988 (though he did not pitch in the postseason) and earned Silver Slugger awards in 1981 and 1983.

Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, stated, "He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Linda and his family."

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, including a no-hitter on June 29, 1990, against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he struck out seven and walked three. Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully famously exclaimed, "If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!" during the game.

From 1983 to 1987, Valenzuela averaged 262 innings pitched and 13 complete games per season. He achieved a streak of 255 consecutive starts, ending in August 1988. In 1986, he registered 20 complete games, winning a league-high 21 games with a 3.14 ERA. Over his first seven seasons, he accumulated an impressive 96 complete games.

After retiring in 1997, Valenzuela remained a prominent figure in the franchise, ranking among the leaders in wins (141), strikeouts (1,759), innings pitched (2,348⅔), starts (320), complete games (107), and shutouts (29).

Valenzuela’s journey from his small hometown of Etchohuaquila in the Mexican state of Sonora to MLB stardom is a testament to his talent and determination. The youngest of a large family, he began playing baseball alongside his older brothers. By age 16, he signed his first professional contract and quickly made a name for himself in the Mexican Central League.

In 1978, Dodgers scout Mike Brito noticed Valenzuela while he was watching a different player. The 18-year-old signed with the Dodgers in 1979 and was quickly promoted to the California League.

Valenzuela made his major league debut in September 1980 as a reliever for the Dodgers.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, whom he married in 1981, as well as his daughters, Linda and Maria, and seven grandchildren. Valenzuela became a U.S. citizen in 2015 and served on Mexico’s coaching staff during the World Baseball Classic multiple times. He was also a part-owner of the Mexican League team Tigres de Quintana Roo, where his sons Fernando Jr. and Ricky held prominent roles within the organization.

Contributions to this report were made by ESPN's Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez, and The Associated Press.