MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL has been rocked by the shock deaths of Yordana Ventura and Andy Marte in separate car crashes in the Dominican Republic, according to AP.
Ventura was a 25-year-old pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals, ranked the second best starter in the MLB and known as a power pitcher.
Marte was a retired third baseman, having played for Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks in a seven-year career.
Ventura made his debut for the Royals back in 2013 and was instantly a hit with fans and became well known for his fastball, easily topping 100 mph.
He was given the nickname of Ace Ventura and played a huge role in the Royal's 2014 AL pennant and 2015 World Series championship winning teams.
The MLB have tweeted their tribute to Marte as they mourn the loss of another ex-player.
Ironically Ventura's defining moment came during the sixth game of the 2014 world series, after he paid tribute to his countryman and friend, the late Oscar Taveras who also died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic.
Ventura and Marte are the second and third players to die in car crashes in the past five months.
Former Marlins player Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident back in September also in the Dominican Republic, he was 33 years old.
ACE I love you my brother. I'm in disbelief and don't know what to say. I love you ACE
@… https://t.co/ky3lw2eSoh
— Eric Hosmer (@TheRealHos35) January 22, 2017
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Tributes have poured in for the two baseball legends:
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said: "Our prayers right now are with Yordano's family as we mourn this young man's passing,". "He was so young and so talented, full of youthful exuberance and always brought a smile to everyone he interacted with. We will get through this as an organisation, but right now is a time to mourn and celebrate the life of Yordano."
Ventura emerged onto the baseball scene in 2014 with the Royals, going 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA and finishing sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting. An important part of the Royals' rotation over the past few seasons, he went 13-8 in Kansas City's World Series championship campaign in '15.
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