Absolutely horrible news of the Dominican Republic.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former MLB third baseman Andy Marte were killed in separate car accidents this morning. Ventura was 25 while Marte was 33.
Signed by the Kansas City Royals when he was 17, Ventura made his MLB debut late in the 2013 season. He was an integral part of the Royals' 2014 AL pennant winner and 2015 World Series champions. In 2016, Ventura went 11-12 with a 4.45 ERA in 32 starts. His career ends with a 38-31 record and a 3.89 ERA with 470 career strikeouts.
Ventura did have something of temperamental reputation and was involved in several on-field brawls most notably with Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles. But Ventura had a compassionate side. When St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras was killed in a car accident during the 2014 post-season, Ventura paid tribute to him during his start of Game 6 of the 2014 World Series. That he was killed in the same way just over two years later is the cruelest of ironies.
Marte signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2000 at the age of 16. He would reach the majors with the Braves in 2005. He would be traded twice that off-season. First, Marte was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in the Edgar Renteria deal. The Red Sox in turn traded Marte to the Cleveland Indians in a six player deal that brought Coco Crisp to Boston. Marte played for the Indians from 2006 through 2010. After bouncing through the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Angels organizations, Marte resurfaced in the majors in 2014 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In parts of seven seasons, Marte collected 186 hits, had a .218 lifetime batting average with 21 HR and 99 RBI. In 2015 and 2016, Marte played baseball in South Korea.
R.I.P. to both men.
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