Mourners pay respects to Ventura at funeral
Members of the Kansas City Royals, local citizens, former teammates, and other Major League Baseball players gathered together in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic on Tuesday to pay their respects to Yordano Ventura, who was killed in an automobile accident on Sunday.
David Ortiz, Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, Johnny Cueto, Edison Volquez, Greg Holland, Mike Moustakas, Jarrod Dyson, Dayton Moore, and Ned Yost were among a collection of MLB figures in attendance, according to the Kansas City Star's Vahe Gregorian.
A final viewing of the deceased 25-year-old took place at the home of his mother, Marisol, before a procession marched several miles to the stadium - Estadio Municipal - where Ventura first played, reports Jeffrey Flanagan and Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.
Carrying their friend and teammate #Royals Yorlando Ventura to his hometown baseball field in Sominican Republic. @KCStar @Royals pic.twitter.com/Rvoe2yPdZv
— John Sleezer (@jsleezer) January 24, 2017
At the stadium, a saddened Perez addressed the crowd.
"On behalf of everyone on the team, all of Kansas City, the state of Missouri: he was not just a friend, a teammate, but he was a brother," Perez said. "We know Yordano from when he started playing for Kansas City. He had a great heart, and it is very sad that we are here today."
#Royals honoring Yorlando Ventura on the pitching mound of his hometown baseball field in Dominican Republic. @KCStar @Royals pic.twitter.com/jXpJdHeYQZ
— John Sleezer (@jsleezer) January 24, 2017
The procession then continued its march to the cemetery to bury Ventura, whose powerful approach to pitching energized a Royals rotation when he debuted in 2013.
Before his death, Ventura appeared in 94 games - 93 starts - for the Royals over four seasons, winning a World Series title with the team in 2015.
HEADLINES
- Anthony: MLB debut with BoSox 'good experience' despite going hitless
- Sale sparkles as Braves snap 7-game skid by beating Brewers
- Dodgers edge Padres in rivals' 1st meeting of season
- Franco's attorney to ask court to exonerate client of all charges
- Riley 'lost for words' amid Braves' latest 7-game losing skid