Man dies after competing in taco-eating contest at Fresno Grizzlies baseball game

Officials identified the man as Dana Hutchings.

August 14, 2019, 2:15 PM

A man died Tuesday night after competing in a taco-eating contest at a Minor League Baseball game in Fresno, California, officials said.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Department identified the deceased man as 41-year-old Dana Hutchings, a Fresno resident.

He had been participating in the food contest at a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game before he was taken to the hospital, where he died, Tony Botti, spokesman for the sheriff's department, told ABC News.

PHOTO: Fans arrive at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif., Sept. 18, 2015, for a minor-league baseball game between the Fresno Grizzlies and the Round Rock Express.
Fans arrive at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif., Sept. 18, 2015, for a minor-league baseball game between the Fresno Grizzlies and the Round Rock Express.
The Fresno Bee via AP, FILE

Details around his death were not immediately clear, but Botti said the sheriff's office “have an idea” about his cause of death, but they are not yet ruling on a cause of death.

Botti did not elaborate further.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, according to the Fresno County Sheriff's office.

Derek Franks, the Fresno Grizzlies President, called Hutchings a fan and said he was devastated to learn of his passing.

"The Fresno Grizzlies extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family of Mr. Hutchings," Franks said in a statement.

The Fresno County Coroner could not immediately be reached.

The team tweeted earlier Tuesday night that the game was the penultimate Taco Tuesday home game of the season.

ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report.