Yordano Ventura’s family is seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young Kansas City Royals pitcher’s death in an automobile accident, after reports published by news outlets in the Dominican Republic — and amplified by Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez — suggest Ventura was robbed as he lay dying by the side of the road.
The Kansas City Star reported the Royals are aware Ventura’s mother, Marisol, wants an investigation, and Ventura’s grandfather, Raul Hernandez, was quoted on the Spanish-language site Pio Deportes saying the same.
That follows multiple sites circulating an unverified report by journalist Euri Cabral stating Ventura was found alive following the early-morning crash, but was assaulted by several people who robbed him of cash and his 2015 World Series ring instead of helping him.
Martinez, a Dominican icon who had championed Ventura during his all-too-brief career, shared that fear Monday night with his social media followers.
“How outrageous to know that a life like Yordano’s could have been saved had it not been that they looted him the way he was looted,” Martinez wrote in Spanish, in the first of three messages posted to Twitter.
“Now it is more painful to know that Yordano remained alive after the accident and instead of someone to help him, they robbed him and let him die. … I hope an investigation will be carried out, because if there is any specific evidence of this, I would feel a great deal of shame for my country.”
Ventura, 25, crashed while driving on a foggy mountain road on Jan. 22. TMZ reported investigators believe the right-hander was speeding. He was not wearing his seat belt and was thrown from his vehicle.
Fox Sports reported the roughly $20 million remaining on Ventura’s contract — set to be paid to his estate — would be nullified is he is found to have been legally intoxicated at the time of the crash. There were no signs of alcohol at the scene. A toxicology report will take three weeks to complete.