One Current, One Former Major League Die in Car Accidents

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Major League Baseball community is mourning the deaths of Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former big league infielder Andy Marte in separate traffic accidents in their native Dominican Republic.

A highway patrol spokesman said Ventura died about 40 miles from Santo Domingo, adding that it was not clear if Ventura was driving. Marte died when the Mercedes Benz he was driving hit a house along a road about 95 miles from the capital.

Ventura was 11-12 with a 4.45 ERA in 32 starts for the 2016 Royals at age 25. He was 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA in four major league seasons with Kansas City, helping the team win two pennants and the 2015 World Series.

Marte spent most of his seven-year major league career with the Indians before playing in Korea the last two seasons. Marte was 33.