ANAHEIM, Calif. — Randy Burden, a minor league pitcher in the Anaheim Angels organization, died in his sleep, the ballclub announced Friday. He was 23.

Burden was found dead Thursday night in Suffolk, Va., the team said in a statement. The cause of death was not determined.

"The entire Angels organization is deeply saddened by Randy's passing," said Tony Reagins, the team's director of player development. "This is very difficult to accept, not simply because Randy was a member of our baseball family, but also because losing someone so young is almost incomprehensible."

Burden was signed in June 2002 by the Angels as a non-drafted free agent. He pitched for the Provo Angels last season and was 0-0 with a 7.45 ERA in 10 relief appearances, posting nine strikeouts.

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He graduated from Nasemond River High in Suffolk, Va., in 1997 and was a four-year baseball letterman at Chowan College in North Carolina.

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