Jean Segura takes a swing in a April game against St. Louis. Credit: Rick Wood

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Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura experienced an extreme tragedy late Friday night when he learned about the death of his 9-month-old son, Janniel, in the Dominican Republic.

The news came to light after the Brewers’ 7-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park, a game that was decided in the ninth inning when Matt Holliday hit a two-out home run off closer Francisco Rodriguez.

“Seggy’s mom (Maribel) and uncle are here,” manager Ron Roenicke said Saturday morning in addressing the situation for the first time with the media. He made only a brief statement following Friday’s game and closed the clubhouse to media.

“We got word at the end of the game through his mom to one of the wives, and then the wife to her husband, and then to Seggy.

“So, obviously it’s tough on him. He didn’t learn about it until after the game was over and one of the players came over and told him.”

There weren’t many specifics available, other than Janniel apparently had been ill in recent days. Segura was headed home to the Dominican Republic.

“He was sick,” Roenicke said of Segura’s son. “(Segura) was on the phone yesterday before the game, and they thought he was OK and getting better. I don’t really know much more than that.

“I don’t know if it’s been (going on) awhile. Saying that, it may have been a couple days. I don’t really know.”

Centerfielder Carlos Gomez, who also is from the Dominican Republic and is a friend of Segura’s, was designated as the team’s player spokesperson after the tragedy.

He, too, had a difficult time wrapping his mind around what had occurred as he spoke to reporters in the Brewers’ dugout before Saturday’s game.

“It’s tough,” said Gomez, who has two young sons. “After I leave last night, I can’t wait to come home and hug my kid and sleep with my kid. It’s hard to imagine. It’s painful.

“It’s not my kid, but I feel like it.”

Gomez said he had no idea anything was amiss until he emerged from the shower and saw Segura crying.

“I went up and asked him what’s happening. He said, ‘My child passed away,’” Gomez said. “When everybody found out what’s going on, it’s tough.

“I didn’t have any details but I didn’t want to ask him last night. I didn’t want to talk too much. We just gathered around him and gave him support, and talked to him a little bit.”

The Brewers’ struggles — seven straight losses and 11 of 12 overall to fall into a first-place tie with the Cardinals in the Central Division — have been tough enough for the team to deal with.

Dealing with Segura’s family tragedy has added a whole new layer of emotion.

“It was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do as a player,” said rightfielder Ryan Braun after the Brewers’ 10-2 loss Saturday afternoon.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s one of those things obviously that’s far more significant and important than baseball is. It puts life in perspective for all of us. It’s definitely extremely difficult.”

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright, who handcuffed the Brewers over seven innings in improving to 12-4, passed along well wishes from the visitors’ clubhouse.

“I told (Jeff) Bianchi to tell Jean that we were all thinking about him,” he said. “We’ll say a prayer for him tomorrow in chapel. When something like that happens, you become a family. Baseball as a whole becomes a family.

“There’s bigger things than baseball. It’s something I hope I never have to go through, so our hearts and prayers go out to him.”

Roenicke has had experience dealing with tragedy in baseball. He was a coach with the Los Angeles Angels in 2009 when pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver hours after making a start against the Oakland A’s.

“The emotions are the same, but it’s a little different,” Roenicke said. “This affects one person; Adenhart affected the whole team. But I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know if he’ll be back after the break.”

Segura has struggled all season at the plate, hitting .232 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in. He also had to take stitches to the face after being hit by a wayward warmup swing from Braun in late April.

But obviously that all pales in comparison to what the 24-year-old is experiencing now.

“He’s emotional, he’s young,” Roenicke said. “That’s why when I tell you I don’t know what’s going to happen with him, I worry about him.

“Having his mom here certainly helps, and his uncle. His uncle was in town last time when he had the thing with getting hit and he went through that with him.

“He’s young. These things aren’t easy when we’re our age. They’re tough things.”

There are no definitive plans regarding Segura’s return to the Brewers. He was placed on the bereavement list and replaced by utility man Elian Herrera on the 25-man roster, while Bianchi started at shortstop Saturday.

“He’ll just have to make a decision where he’s at and what he feels like,” Roenicke said. “It’s different with everybody. Some guys might feel like, ‘Hey, I need to get back and I need to play,’ and some other guys just can’t do it.”

Gomez doesn’t know what to expect, either.

“I can’t even imagine,” he said. “If it’s my kid, I’d probably stay home and not come back. I don’t know how he’s going to react. We’ll just wait until he comes back. We’re going to take care of him and help him to relax and enjoy life again.”

The important thing, Gomez said, is Segura knows he has all the support he needs once he does return.

“We feel like he has another family here,” he said. “Every teammate is part of my family. I spend more time with my teammates than my own family. When he comes back, I want to be like his brother and be by his side.

“I can’t imagine when you lose a child, what’s going to be in your mind and heart. It can be really tough.”