DENVER -- The news of Darryl Kile's death hit particularly hard in Colorado, where the St. Louis Cardinals pitcher played for two years.

From ticket takers to ushers to the players, everyone at Coors Field struggled with the reality that Kile was gone.

"Our hearts are broken,'' Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said with tears in his eyes. "Our thoughts and prayers are with (Kile's wife) Flynn Kile and her children, and Darryl's family.''

Kile, 33, was found dead Saturday at the team's hotel in Chicago. He apparently died of natural causes, according to police.

Kile pitched for the Rockies from 1998-99 and still has a home in Englewood, Colo. Only a handful of the current Rockies players were around when Kile pitched in Colorado, but news of his death was still difficult to swallow.

Larry Walker, who was with Colorado in both of Kile's seasons there, broke down several times during a brief news conference before the Rockies' game with Tampa Bay Saturday night. Pitcher Mike Hampton was too emotional to speak and stayed in the clubhouse.

"I think we've all heard what he was like as a teammate, and it's all true,'' Walker said as he wiped away tears. "He was a great guy, was in a good mood all the time and was a professional at everything in life. It's going to be hard to deal with.''

The Rockies held a moment of silence before their game with Tampa Bay Saturday night to honor Kile.

Hampton, who played with Kile in Houston, bowed his head and tightly squeezed his eyes shut during the moment of silence, and wiped away tears as the national anthem started.

Hurdle also appeared to wipe away tears and Walker stood with his head down before rubbing his face with his hands.

Walker said he heard about Kile's death while driving to the ballpark.

"It really puts things into perspective, doesn't it,'' Walker said. "We lose a teammate, and even worse, a friend. I feel for Flynn and the kids. My wife talked to Flynn this morning and she was a mess. I just feel for the family.''

Tampa Bay hitting coach Milt May, who coached Kile in Colorado in 1999, said he had a hard time believing it actually happened.

"I heard about it when I came off the field,'' May said. "When you hear something like this, you do a double take. 'Let me hear that again? Did you hear that right?'''

Kile struggled in his time with the Rockies -- 21-30 with a 5.83 ERA -- but was known for his resiliency, both on the field and with the press.

"He was a warrior when he was here,'' Hurdle said. "It's sad. A lot of people gave him a hard time here. A lot people were very, very opinionated about his talents in the press. And the one thing the man never did was back down from an opportunity to pitch.

"He took the ball every time he was asked to take the ball. That's the thing I remember about him the most.''