Yordano Ventura Hernández (Spanish: [ɟʝorˈðano βenˈtuɾa]; June 3, 1991 – January 22, 2017) was a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ventura was born in Samaná, Dominican Republic, in 1991. After quitting school at the age of 14, he worked in construction until joining a Kansas City Royals academy. Ventura could throw a fastball topping out at 102 miles per hour (164 km/h). His repertoire of pitches also included a curveball and a change-up. He was twice named to the All-Star Futures Game. Ventura made his MLB debut on September 17, 2013. Known as a power pitcher, his fastball was much valued by the Royals during his tenure with the team. In 2014, Ventura's 96.2-mile-per-hour (154.8 km/h) average fastball velocity (96.4 miles per hour (155.1 km/h) for two-seam fastballs) ranked second-best among MLB starters. He helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series. On January 22, 2017, Ventura was killed in a car crash. On January 22, 2017, Ventura died in a car accident in the city of Juan Adrián, in his native country of the Dominican Republic.
Andy Manuel Marte (October 21, 1983 – January 22, 2017) was a Dominican professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He also played in the KBO League for the KT Wiz. On January 22, 2017, Marte was killed in a car crash.Marte signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 13, 2013. He began the 2014 season with the Reno Aces of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. The Diamondbacks promoted Marte to the major leagues on July 31, 2014, and homered in his first at-bat with the team, a pinch-hit against Jeff Locke of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was designated for assignment on August 7, when the Diamondbacks promoted Jake Lamb. Marte returned to Reno and elected free agency in October 2014.[20]Marte spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the KT Wiz of the KBO League. Marte had a son. Marte was killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on January 22, 2017. Between San Francisco de Macorís and Pimentel, Marte crashed into a house.
