Former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Wolfe has died, his wife announced on Wednesday. Wolfe was 45. A native of Fullerton, CA, Wolfe appeared in 72 games for the team across three seasons from 2007 to 2009. Circumstances of Wolfe’s death were not disclosed, but his wife, Rachell, wrote her husband endured a “really, really difficult and torturous battle.” Originally taken with a sixth-round pick in 1999 by the Minnesota Twins, Wolfe was acquired by the Blue Jays in January of 2006 from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Canadian infielder Corey Koskie. He made his big league debut with the team on May 30, 2007 against the New York Yankees. Wolfe would go on to make a career-high 38 appearances that season. He would finish his three-year stint in the majors with a record of 5-5, a 3.81 earned run average and WHIP of 1.222 over 82.2 innings pitched. He struck out 47 batters and walked 22. His last appearance came on Oct. 2, 2009 against the Baltimore Orioles. After leaving the majors, Wolfe would go on to a lengthy stint in Japan. Suiting up for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Saitama Seibu Lions, Wolfe made 167 appearances across nine seasons. He was 56-40 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.339 WHIP. Wolfe won the Japan Series in both 2014 and 2015 with the Hawks.
