October 18, 2010

Kaiser dies from cardiac arrest

Phil Kaiser, a junior utility player at Bradley, died early Monday from an undiagnosed heart condition.

According to the Peoria Journal Star, an emergency call was made shortly after 2 a.m. and Kaiser was pronounced dead less than an hour later in the emergency room at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. Kaiser, 21, suffered from hypertrophic cardio myopathy, a thickening of the walls of the heart. He also had an 85 percent blockage of the artery that supplies blood to the front portion of the heart.

Kaiser played in 39 games in two seasons with the Braves, primarily as a pitcher, first baseman and designated hitter. He was 1-0 in 12 relief appearances and batted .283 in 60 career at-bats with two doubles. Kaiser was a communications major focusing on advertising.

A native of Berwyn, Ill., Kaiser was a two-time all-conference selection at Nazareth Academy. He was all-state as a junior in 2007 and helped the Roadrunners win a regional title as a senior in 2008.

Kaiser is the third Division I baseball player to pass away this fall. Mitch Caster of Wichita State and Thomas McGurk of Murray State were both killed in automobile accidents.

(photo courtesy of Bradley Media Relations Office)