The death of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, remains under investigation, but possible asphyxiation has been ruled out, authorities in Costa Rica told ESPN on Tuesday.

Agents from the Quepos and Parrita office of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) are investigating, OIJ spokesperson Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia said in a statement. Alvarado Garcia added by phone that the teenager's death had been handled as possible asphyxia but said that cause had been ruled out as of Tuesday.

Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, announced their son's death Sunday in a statement released by the Yankees. The statement said Miller had fallen ill, along with several other family members, while on vacation. "We have so many questions and so few answers at this point," the statement said, "but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st."

Monday, the United States Embassy in Costa Rica and the U.S. Department of State confirmed to ESPN the death of a U.S. citizen in Costa Rica on Friday, March 21, but offered no additional details on the cause of death.

"Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones during this difficult time, we have no further comment at this time," a State Department spokesperson told ESPN.

In a phone call Tuesday with ESPN, Alvarado Garcia said Miller Gardner was found in his hotel room in Manuel Antonio, a popular resort district, in the province of Puntarenas on Friday morning. He added that Miller Gardner's air passages were not obstructed but that there were traces of vomit.

The 14-year-old was with family members who told investigators that they had "gone to eat at a restaurant and that the food had made them sick," Alvarado Garcia said. It's unclear which family members were with him and where the restaurant was located.

A study was requested at Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA) of the University of Costa Rica. That study, along with an autopsy and other analyses, is being processed over the next two to three months.

The statement by Miller Gardner's parents said: "Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day."

The Yankees said in the statement that the organization is "filled with grief" after learning of Miller Gardner's death.

"Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss. It wasn't just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years -- so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller. We grieve with Brett, Jessica, Hunter, and their community of family and friends in mourning the loss of Miller, who had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature. Our love for the Gardner family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our enduring support while understanding their desire for privacy at this time. May Miller rest in peace," the team said in its statement.

Miller Gardner played high school football in South Carolina and wore No. 11, which his father donned during 14 MLB seasons, all with the Yankees. Brett Gardner, a popular team leader, was a member of New York's 2009 championship team and retired in 2021.