The baseball world is in mourning today, after 25-year-old pitcher Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic early this morning. Fans in Kansas City flocked to Kauffman Stadium to pay their respects, and were surprised to be greeted by Royals pitcher Danny Duffy and shortstop Christian Colón, giving out hugs in condolence.
In the emptiness of the offseason, Kauffman Stadium has become something of a vigil site today, with flags lowered at half mast, Ventura gracing the scoreboard, and flowers being laid:
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Ventura’s death marks a point in the disturbing trend of vehicle accident deaths of Latin American ballplayers when they visit their home countries. Big salaries at a young age, fast cars, alcohol, and poor road infrastructure makes for a dangerous combination. Though the cause of Ventura’s death has yet to be fully investigated.
