A player with the Regina Red Sox is dead following a crash in Montana late last week.
Jesse Lubiniecki died as the result of a single vehicle rollover in Rosebud County, Montana in the early morning hours of May 30, the team announced in a post to social media Tuesday.
According to the team, Lubiniecki had just finished his sophomore season with the Taft Community College Cougars in southern California - recording 24 appearances as a reliever.
He was on his way back to Regina when the crash occurred, the team said.
“It’s tough,” team President Gary Brotzel told CTV News Tuesday. “It slams you. I had a pit in my stomach the whole day.”
An alert from the Rosebud County Sheriff’s office on May 30 showed police on scene of a crash on I-94 at around 1 a.m.
“The Red Sox organization would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his parents, Noel and Kim, and his brothers Luke, Layne and his fiancée Cathy,” the post read.
“We will play out this season with #33 in our hearts.”
Regina played their first game back at Currie Field since learning of Lubinieck’s passing Tuesday night against the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
Lubiniecki had been with the Red Sox since the 2024 season - pitching for the team in four games last summer.
“It just slammed the whole team, especially the players who were here last year,” Brotzel said. “He pitched really good for us [last year] and we were looking forward to having him back.”
Prior to his collegiate career, Lubiniecki studied at Martin Academy in his hometown of Regina and the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge.
Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) President Kevin Kvame released a statement Tuesday afternoon.
“We are incredibly saddened to hear of Jesse’s passing and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones during this terrible time.”
Lubiniecki was 22.
Red Sox players wore black ribbons in memory of their late teammate.
Brotzel said the team will be adding a ‘33′ patch to jersey’s for the rest of the seaosn.
“[Lubinieck’s] jersey’s hanging in his locker and he’s going to be with us all season,” he added.
Regina went on to defeat Medicine Hat 14-9.
We join the @ReginaRedSox in mourning the loss of talented young pitcher Jesse Lubiniecki. pic.twitter.com/no7nVW3hSy
— The WCBL (@wcbleague) June 3, 2025
