Despite Mario Encarnacion's fall from big-time prospect, his name still resonates here in Sacramento. For those who don't know, Encarnacion died in Taiwan playing in a Chinese baseball league in October of 2005.
He and Miguel Tejada came from the Dominican Republic to the A's system together. Encarnacion was originally the can't-miss prospect, but whereas fate smiled upon Tejada, it took Encarnacion down a very different, tragic path.
Marcos Breton, Sacramento Bee columnist, wrote this excellent piece today about the two and their divergent paths. It is can't miss reading and it is a very sad story.