In saddening news, Los Angeles Angels’ young starting pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car crash last night according to TMZ.com.

Cops say someone driving a minivan blew through a red light, causing the Mitsubishi that Adenhart and three others were riding in to hit a light pole. Three of the four people in the Mitsubishi were killed in the crash — Nick, another man and a woman — while the fourth person remains in the hospital.

Cops say the person driving the van fled the scene — but was later caught and charged with felony hit-and-run. The suspect is also being treated for injuries in a local hospital.

We’re told one of the other men killed in the crash was also affiliated with the Angels organization.

Nick was 22 years old.

FYI — Nick pitched his ass off last night, striking out 5 guys in 6 scoreless innings. His performance was hailed by sportswriters as a “brilliant effort by a 22-year-old right-hander making his fourth Major League start.”

This is such a tragedy. Adenhart was one of the better young arms in baseball and he had a bright career ahead of him. I feel for his family, as well as the families of all the victims involved in the crash.