Royals pitcher Danny Duffy and infielder Christian Colon came to the stadium to help console fans. Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura has died at the age of 25 after a car crash in his native Dominican Republic. Ventura was the lone person in his car when he crashed on the Juan Adrián highway in San Jose de Ocoa, Colonel Jacobo Mateo Moquete, director of communications for the police in the Dominican Republic, said on Twitter. "Today is a very sad day for our entire game and particularly for the many loyal fans in the Dominican Republic, the home of both Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte," said Commissioner Rob Manfred. Yordano Ventura. Killed in a car crash early Sunday in the Dominican Republic, the man his teammates called Ace will be missed and the loss will be felt for years. He was a great kid, a fun-loving kid. A photo posted by the police spokesman shows a truck on its side along a curved road: A photo posted to Twitter by Colonel Jacobo Mateo Moquete, director of communications for the police in the Dominican Republic, shows the crash scene. No one has been able to confirm or deny alcohol was a factor, and I've asked repeatedly. We had his back. (Twitter), “Our prayers right now are with Yordano’s family as we mourn this young man’s passing,” Royals General Manager Dayton Moore said in a statement. Becoming Yordano: A trip to the backroads of the Dominican Republic, The Kansas City Star visited Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura in his home country, the Dominican Repulic, early this month. Yordano Ventura died at the age of 25, on January 22, 2017, in a car crash at Juan Adrain. We lost someone close to us.". In an odd twist of fate, Marte's final game in the Majors was against Ventura and the Royals on Aug. 6, 2014. "Moore said he last spoke to Ventura right before Christmas, "He told me he was going to win 18 games, 10 of them complete games.". 131.5k Followers, 163 Following, 171 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Yordano Ventura (@venturayordano) (January 2015 Video by David Eulitt and Monty Davis | The Kansas City Star). Yordano Ventura While people in the Dominican Republic and Kansas City mourn the death of Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura , we’re starting to … It's senseless. "He was so fun to be around. Fans everywhere mourn the tragic death of Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura Perhaps generously listed at 6 feet and 195 pounds, Ventura bedeviled hitters with … An inscription honoring the late Oscar Taveras is seen on the hat of Yordano Ventura during Game Six of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 28, 2014. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about starting pitcher Yordano Ventura on ESPN. Yordano Ventura’s family is seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young Kansas City Royals pitcher’s death in an automobile accident, after reports published b… "I was just hoping to find out how to process this. "That's just who he was," Gordon said. :: Yordano Ventura, 1991-2017 | Andy Marte, 1983-2017 ::Moore said Royals assistant general manager Rene Francisco, who is in charge of international operations, was en route to the Dominican to be with Ventura's family. And memorial flowers began to accumulate outside the front doors. Duffy told MLB.com by phone, "I can't believe it. Few details of the fatal crash have been released. Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez was killed in a boat crash on September 25 during the final weeks of the season. KANSAS CITY -- Yordano Ventura, a rising star right-hander with the Royals, died early Sunday in a car accident in the Dominican Republic at the age of 25. "From what I've been told, speed was not a factor," Moore said. It's obvious from the pictures that he did not have a seat belt on. I love you ACE @… https://t.co/ky3lw2eSoh, Gone way to soon. #RIPAce pic.twitter.com/jkDNKDmtNg, ACE I love you my brother. "And the will to win. Ventura often thanked the Royals for taking a chance on him when he was just 17. He was 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA in 94 games, and he was poised to be the Royals' No. Just four months after the death of Jose Fernandez, tragedy hit baseball again on Sunday. Royals starting pitcher that day? Yordano Ventura Death. Yordano Ventura was 'robbed of World Series ring and cash' as he lay dying after car crash - as it's revealed his family's claim to his $20m fortune hinges on if he was drunk Yordano Ventura … "We've been group-texting all morning, trying to make sense of it," left fielder Alex Gordon told MLB.com by phone. Ventura said at the time the contract offered him the stability and flexibility to go back to the Dominican Republic to see his family and help them out, according to the Star. Ventura was thrown out of the vehicle and was presumed dead by the time the authorities arrived. It's just not going to feel the same. As per the reports, he had not put on his seatbelt while the incident occurred. We will get through this as an organization, but right now is a time to mourn and celebrate the life of Yordano.”. We got to be strong right now for each other and for his family. "• Castrovince: Ventura, Marte leave us way too soonNews of Ventura's death shook his other teammates throughout Sunday. The Royals ended up losing the series to the Giants, but Ventura won a ring a year later, as the Royals beat the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series. "I'm always going to remember our talks, not just about baseball but about life," pitching coach Dave Eiland told MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @FlannyMLB. Yordano Ventura Dies In Car Crash By Connor Byrne | January 22, 2017 at 10:51pm CDT Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on Sunday morning. I loved him. "Yordano was a key figure in the Royals' recent success. More than two years have passed since the death of Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura, and his estate has no money left.Court … Nearly four months after the stunning death of Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, baseball is mourning the loss of Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, another magnetic pitcher … Gordon recalled the feeling of loss when Taveras and Fernandez died. We lost someone close to us.\"","type":"markdown","__typename":"Markdown"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"royals-pitcher-yordano-ventura-dies-in-crash-c214108926\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.16.data":{"html":", We are heartbroken. You can watch video from that below: Becoming Yordano: A trip to the backroads of the Dominican RepublicThe Kansas City Star visited Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura in his home country, the Dominican Repulic, early this month. I love you Ace. Royals manager Ned Yost told MLB.com he will accompany Moore to the Dominican tomorrow to be with Ventura's family. Ventura paid tribute to his friend three days later in Game 6 of the World Series by writing Taveras' initials "O.T." Horrific photos from the scene show the aftermath of the crash. "But it never really hits you until it hits close to home. "On the field, though, Ventura was a fierce competitor with a 100-mph fastball and a burning desire to succeed. Castrovince: Ventura, Marte leave us way too soon, Posnanski: Ventura's growth miraculous to see. Yordano Ventura, a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, has died at the age of 25 after a car crash in his native Dominican Republic, the team says. And he was especially grateful after he signed a five-year, $23 million contract extension in 2015.Asked what he planned to do with the money at the time, Ventura smiled and said, "Take care of my family. Yordano Ventura’s shocking and tragic death. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing. I do not own any of these highlights or music clips. Ventura was thrown out of the vehicle and was presumed dead by the time police arrived. "Former Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez lockered next to Ventura the past two seasons, which was by design as the Royals hoped Volquez would mentor Ventura.Volquez said toward the end of the 2016 season of Ventura's competitiveness, "You don't want to take that energy away from him. He lost control of his Jeep Wrangler, which flipped over on a curved road. :: Yordano Ventura, 1991-2017 | Andy Marte, 1983-2017 :. “It has a lot to do with my family and the ability to get back and help out,” Ventura said during a press conference. He will always be a special part of our organization.". It's so fresh. Ventura was 25. "Duffy and his teammates remembered Ventura for his playful and mischievous personality inside the clubhouse. Yordano's cause of death was car accident/traffic collision. Yordano passed away on January 22, 2017 at the age of 25 in Juan Adrián, Dominican Republic. Both gone too soon. But my feeling right now is that it's never going to be the same. The tributes are pouring into social media after the death of Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura. "We were truly blessed to have been a part of his life. Ventura paid tribute to Taveras during the 2014 World Series. Senseless. https://twitter.com/Royals/status/823215755063914497/photo/1. But that was something he needed to be successful. "One by one, Ventura's teammates took to Twitter to mourn and express their sentiments. We gotta be strong for each other and his family.\"• Castrovince: Ventura, Marte leave us way too soonNews of Ventura's death shook his other teammates throughout Sunday. (Getty). On January 22, 2017, Ventura was involved in a car crash where he lost control of his Jeep and flipped over on a curved road. He was 33. He was 25. pic.twitter.com/da47HtoyMF, Fellow rotation mate Duffy took the news hard, saying, "I don't want to believe it. Ventura, who in the Dominican Republic was a member of the Águilas Cibaeñas, died the same day as teammate and Major leaguer, Andy Marte, who was killed in a separate car crash in the Dominican Republic at the age of 33. On January 22, 2017 at age 25, Ventura died in a car crash in Juan Adrián, the Dominican Republic. Ventura is survived by his wife, Maria del Pilar Sangiovanni, whom he married prior to last season.In a separate incident, former Major League infielder Andy Marte, who played parts of seven seasons with the Indians, Braves and D-backs, died in a car crash Sunday. "He was a great kid with a big heart. "Not sure when it will. Yordano Ventura Cause of Death: How Did the Royals Pitcher Die? "This is all so hard to take. Oscar was a very humble guy and very likeable, and I’m going to miss him a lot,” Ventura said after that game, according to Sports Illustrated. "We were truly blessed to have been a part of his life. All rights reserved to the Kansas City Royals, MLB, TBS and FOX Sports. That wasn't who he was on the mound. The Royals pitcher died on the same day another baseball player, former Cleveland Indians infielder Andy Marte, was killed in a car crash, also in the Dominican Republic, Sports Illustrated reports. Somber scene at Kauffman Stadium as fans come to mourn the loss of their Ace. Ventur… May you rest with the Lord now. Authorities said Ventura’s body was taken to Santiago for an autopsy. The death of Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura caught everyone by surprise, which is why we should take a moment to appreciate the Chiefs. That's what he would have done.". I don't want to believe it. He won the 2015 World Series with the Royals. "According to Moore, toxicology reports won't be available for 21 days. Following the tragic death of 25-year-old pitcher Yordano Ventura last weekend, the difficult and unavoidable reality is this: The team must soon get back to business. Tributes to Ventura from his teammates and others in the baseball world streamed in on Twitter on Sunday after news of his death was announced. Reportedly, he lost handle over his Jeep Wrangler which somersaulted when he was trying to turn on a curve path. pic.twitter.com/Mt7XPu78ZX, — Matt Evans (@MattEvansKMBC) January 22, 2017. (Getty). Ventura is the second young star Major League Baseball pitcher to die over the past year. "I can't even believe I won't be able to mess around with him in the clubhouse again," Duffy said, his voice trembling. I don't know what to say other then I'm going to miss you a lot. (Getty). Marte, 33, played the past two seasons in Korea, according to SI. Ventura, a rookie at the time, pitched one of the best games of his career with Taveras’ name inscribed on his hat, leading the Royals to a 10-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants by allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings. \"But it never really hits you until it hits close to home. Yordano Ventura’s Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, WATCH: Ryan Mason of Hull City Fractures Skull in Head-to-Head Collision. "The mission now for the Royals organization is to be strong going forward. We gotta be strong for each other and his family. Jeffrey Flanagan has covered the Royals since 1991, and for MLB.com since 2015. In 2015, the Kansas City Star went to Ventura’s native Dominican Republic to speak to his mother and others who helped him escape poverty to reach the MLB. (January 2015 Video by David Eulitt and Monty Davis | The Kansas City Star)2015-01-22T22:55:38.000Z. "The Marlins handled that with such grace and heart," Moore said. Flags being lowered outside Kauffman Stadium in honor of Yordano Ventura. Ventura's hometown is in Las Terrenas, where the funeral services are expected to take place. (Getty). There's no playbook for this. It's just a very hard day for all of us. Over his four-year career, Ventura had a 38-31 record with a 3.89 ERA and 470 strikeouts in 94 games. "Everybody in our organization is hurting right now," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said in a conference call. "It just shows you never know what the world is going to bring you," Gordon said. He was a native of Samaná, Dominican Republic. Yordano Ventura, a 25-year-old pitcher was killed in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic. and "#18" on his cap as Ventura pitched seven scoreless innings in a must-win, which the Royals did, 10-0, over the Giants. "• Baseball world mourns Ventura, MarteOne of Moore's first calls on Sunday was to Marlins team president Mike Hill, who had to cope with the death of ace pitcher Jose Fernandez in September. Yordano Ventura during a game in September 2016. "It just hasn't sunk in yet," Yost said. Yordano Ventura, a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, has died in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic, the team says. Gordon recalled the feeling of loss when Taveras and Fernandez died.\"It just shows you never know what the world is going to bring you,\" Gordon said. You will forever be my brother. #RipAce pic.twitter.com/1LXyGwxwZ0, Thank you for your support during this difficult time. I loved him. No script. RIP. Andy was a respected member of six organizations who played seven Major League seasons, including for the Cleveland Indians from 2006-10. His last game in the MLB came against the Royals in August 2014, with Ventura on the mound for Kansas City, Houston Astros announcer Robert Ford says. 2 starter in 2017.By noon on Sunday, the flags at Kauffman Stadium were lowered to half-mast. Yordano Ventura Tribute To honor the legacy of Yordano Ventura, the Royals established the ACE 30 Memorial Fund through Royals Charities. "The talent was incredible," Duffy said. Celebrating the win Best of Chiefs vs. Bucs 's best, via Make Mondays better SUBSCRIBE NOW He was friends with another baseball player killed in his prime in a crash in the Dominican Republic, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, who died in October 2014. Yordano Ventura: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Powered by. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to the families, teammates, friends and fans of both players. "It was that fire that often got Ventura in trouble through brushback pitches that led to benches-clearing incidents, suspensions and fines. Funeral plans and memorials for Ventura have not been finalized. #ripACE pic.twitter.com/IMa7jJw7dv. Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. He signed a five-year contract extension with the Royals for $23 million in April 2015, the Kansas City Star reported. But we have to somehow carry on. I loved him. — Robert Ford (@raford3) January 22, 2017. Senseless. Yordano Ventura's untimely death raises questions that are difficult to answer. "Posnanski: Ventura's growth miraculous to seeThe Royals indicated they still were collecting details, but there were reports out of the Dominican that the crash took place on a highway in Rancho Arriba, a town in the province of San Jose de Ocoa. It likely was the signature win for Ventura, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008 and who made his Major League debut in September 2013. Yordano Ventura, a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, has died in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic, the team says.. Ventura was 25. Colon was especially close to Ventura and offered a message in a tweet that began, "How can I even begin to explain how much I cared about you? He is survived by his wife, Mari Pili Sangiovanni, and three children. "Everybody in our organization is hurting right now," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said in a conference call. Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura (June 3, 1991-January 22, 2017) burst onto the baseball scene with a 100 mph fastball and an explosive … Andy Marte's last MLB game was 8/6/14 w/ Arizona, against KC. Get complete game-by-game stats for starting pitcher Yordano Ventura on ESPN. We lost a brother. "He had that fiery personality, and sometimes, it got the best of him. \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550,"__typename":"ExternalEmbedContent"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"royals-pitcher-yordano-ventura-dies-in-crash-c214108926\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.14":{"data":{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"royals-pitcher-yordano-ventura-dies-in-crash-c214108926\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.14.data","typename":"ExternalEmbedContent"},"type":"oembed","__typename":"ExternalEmbed"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"royals-pitcher-yordano-ventura-dies-in-crash-c214108926\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.15":{"content":"Fellow rotation mate Duffy took the news hard, saying, \"I don't want to believe it. “He was so young and talented, full of youthful exuberance and always brought a smile to everyone he interacted with. Many in the baseball world are still trying to process the stunning news of Yordano Ventura’s death from a car collision over the weekend. Yordano Ventura, whose fastball reached over 100 miles per hour, joined the Royals organization as an amateur free agent in 2008, and made his MLB debut in 2013. I'm in disbelief and don't know what to say. Funds raised by Royals fans, corporate partners, and Ventura's teammates were used to renovate his childhood field in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. Two years after Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura died in a car crash, the $20 million left on his contract ... Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura's $20 million guaranteed contract still unpaid after death. Like Fernandez, Yordano Ventura was one of the game’s most joyful and promising young pitchers. “From the minute that I found out about Oscar, I said this game was going to be dedicated to him.”. We have to fight to carry on. "Ventura's death also comes less than three years after the death of his close friend Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals' outfielder who also died in a car accident in the Dominican on Oct. 26, 2014. Yordano Ventura, the hard-throwing Royals pitcher who helped bring Kansas City a World Series title in 2015, died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on Sunday morning. His electric talent on the mound helped lead the Royals to two American League pennants and the 2015 World Championship. The hat from that game was sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame, according to Sports Illustrated. “If he was still here, I would for sure be talking to him, and Oscar would be very happy for me and very proud. Yordano Ventura Death. The 2016 season was the last time Ventura pitched in the MLB. The Royals, though, always stood by their young pitcher. KANSAS CITY -- Yordano Ventura, a rising star right-hander with the Royals, died early Sunday in a car accident in the Dominican Republic at the age of 25. He will always be a special part of our organization." A year after his death, Yordano Ventura’s unsettled affairs still linger By Maria Torres. Former MLB infielder Andy Marte was also killed in a car crash on Sunday. “This is a situation that allows me to do that and now I want to continue to pitch well, stay health and be able to play well during the contract.”. My prayers are with you and your family. "People just saw the blowups on the mound, but they never saw the great kid inside that he was. "It was just a mountainous area with heavy fog. RIP ACE. You were like a little brother to me.". He's got to have that passion.