Yordano Ventura's untimely death raises concerns
As the Kansas City Royals brass traveled to the Dominican Republic to attend Tuesday’s funeral for pitcher Yordano Ventura, who died in a traffic accident Sunday morning, fellow executives around baseball shared their grief and concern.
Much like Jose Fernandez’s death in a late-September boating accident, Ventura’s untimely passing served as a reminder of the fragility of life, even for the most talented, and how teams’ best-laid plans can go tragically astray.
And how little they can do about it.
Fans mourned Yordano Ventura's death with Royals players outside Kauffman Stadium
Yordano Ventura's competitiveness often created conflict
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Yordano Ventura's inner fire was both his blessing and his curse
Every general manager dreads getting a call like the one the Royals’ Dayton Moore fielded on Sunday just as he was about to take a flight to Atlanta, informing him his No. 2 starter and one of the game’s hardest throwers had perished at 25.
The crash that took Ventura’s life – which happened the same day former major leaguer and Dominican countryman Andy Marte also perished in an unrelated auto accident – brought to mind the car wreck that killed St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend in October 2014.
Both were budding stars who met an untimely death on the roads of their native country while back home for the offseason.
On the heels of Fernandez’s tragic loss, the latest accidents prompted calls for Major League Baseball as an institution or teams individually to take preventive measures. Yet there’s only so much they can do to protect players, no matter how good their intentions might be.
“We’re not only trying to raise ballplayers but also trying to raise strong men,’’ San Francisco Giants GM Bobby Evans said. “Our role in that takes many different forms. In the case of auto accidents, I really don’t know what can be done. We’re open to looking at ways of keeping our guys safe.’’
Evans pointed out teams’ concern for their players during the offseason is not limited to the Dominican Republic, although driving conditions and lax application of traffic laws in the country sometimes lend themselves to more danger on the roads.
Like other teams, the Giants make the facilities at their Dominican academy available to Latin players who want to train in the offseason, as well as their Arizona complex to their stateside players. The club also provides guidance and offers mentoring to their young players, seeking to identify early on the ones in most need of help.
“Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s something we try to cover every spring,’’ Evans said. “It gets dealt with on a case-by-case basis throughout the season as circumstances emerge that draw into question a player’s judgment. We always have to be mindful there may be more we can do.’’
While alcohol was a factor in the Taveras and Fernandez accidents, little is known about the circumstances surrounding Ventura and Marte’s fatal crashes. Toxicology reports won’t be completed for weeks. In Ventura’s case, mountainous terrain and foggy conditions may have been contributing elements.
Moore said Dominican authorities found no evidence of alcohol at the scene of the accident. According to a Fox Sports report, the role of alcohol in the crash could impact the ability of Ventura’s estate to collect the $20 million left on his contract.
That, of course, was far from Moore’s mind as he mourned the loss of a pitcher the club signed as a teenager and grew to embrace despite his occasional blowups on the mound.
“It’s certainly something that puts everything into a strong perspective and challenges us all to never grow tired or weary or cease in doing what is right and loving one another,’’ Moore said. “It’s a reminder nobody’s guaranteed tomorrow.’’
Gallery: Yordano Ventura through the years
