The news broke early Sunday morning that Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former MLB third and first baseman, Andy Marte, were both killed just hours apart. Ventura, 25, and Marte, 33, tragically lost their lives in separate car accidents both taking place in their native Dominican Republic.
Ventura, who won a World Series with the Royals back in 2015, was signed as an amateur free agent by Kansas City back in 2008 made his major league debut on September 17, 2013 against the Cleveland Indians. He amassed a 38-31 record with a career 3.89 ERA in four big league seasons, all with the Royals.
#Royals flag lowered to half-staff at #KauffmanStadium in memory of Yordano Ventura. @KCStar @Royals @YordanoVentura pic.twitter.com/UDKIcx5zQE
— John Sleezer (@jsleezer) January 22, 2017
Marte spent parts of seven seasons at the MLB level with Braves, Indians, and most recently the Diamondbacks in 2014. He was signed by Atlanta as an amateur free agent back in 2000 and was a prospect in the Pirates organization in 2010. He hit 21 home runs, 99 RBI, and hit .218 for his career over the span of 308 big league games.
We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Brave Andy Marte. Our thoughts are with his family. pic.twitter.com/Au1sgqMItS
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 22, 2017
