Cause of death for legendary Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela revealed

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The cause of death of legendary Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who died last month at age 63, has been released.

According to his death certificate obtained by Eyewitness News, Valenzuela died of septic shock. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office listed this as the immediate cause of death.

Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when organs fail and leads to dangerously low blood pressure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 350,000 people die from the disease each year in the United States.

The medical examiner cited decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis as the underlying causes. Also listed as a significant condition contributing to Valenzuela's death was “probable” Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rapidly progressive brain disorder.

The document also noted that Valenzuela was cremated. The late Dodger star was honored at a public funeral mass at Our Lady of Angeles Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles last week.

After his death, tributes poured in, including a huge mural in his memory in Boyle Heights.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.