TORONTO -- John Cerutti, a local broadcaster and former Blue Jay, passed away on Sunday at the age of 44. He is survived by his wife, Claudia, and three children, Daniel, Nicole and Janine.

The left-hander worked for Rogers Sportsnet, and served as the lead analyst on Jays games for the last three seasons. Long before that, he was intimately involved in the community: Cerutti was a first-round draft pick in 1981 and spent six of his seven big-league seasons with the Blue Jays.

Doug Beeforth and Paul Godfrey -- the presidents of Rogers Sportsnet and the Blue Jays, respectively -- issued a joint statement.

"This is a sad day for the Rogers family, as we've lost a distinguished member," it said. "John's sudden and tragic passing is a real blow to all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to John's family at this time.

Cerutti, affable and athletic, seemed to be in the prime of his life. He was a scratch golfer and a workout buff, which makes his passing all the more incomprehensible. He was also relentlessly punctual and reliable, which set off alarms at SkyDome on Sunday.

The broadcaster didn't make it to an 11 a.m. production meeting, so his co-workers tried to contact him in his hotel room. They were unsuccessful, which made everyone even more nervous. Eventually, police officers and emergency service workers entered his room and found him without any vital signs. No foul play is suspected, and it's believed he died of natural causes.

Cerutti went 49-43 with a 3.94 ERA in the big leagues, and all but three of his victories came as a Blue Jay. He retired in 1991 and spent some time away from the game before beginning his broadcasting career in 1997. He worked for a few seasons with CBC, then earned a more visible role with Rogers.

Still, most people remember him for his personality. Players loved to talk to him away from the camera, both for his empathy and sense of humor. Fans gravitated to him, and he seemed to have an endless supply of time and patience. His employers appreciated all those qualities and struggled to find words to express their feelings in the immediate aftermath.

"It was an unbelievable shock. It goes to show how unimporant wins and losses are at a time like this," Godfrey said. "We grew to love John not only as a player but as a person. He's going to leave a void."

Cerutti pitched three seasons with the Québec Aces, 1988-1991.  He compiled 4-12 record with a 5.16 ERA and 2 saves in his ABL career.

- - Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com.