Yordano Ventura
Players across the league mourned the loss of Ventura and Marte on social media. Getty

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former major leaguer Andy Marte died on Sunday, Jan. 22 in two separate car accidents in the Dominican Republic. Ventura died on a highway leading to the town of Juan Adrian, about 40 miles northwest of the capital, Santo Domingo. Authorities attribute the death to speeding, although it's still not clear if he was driving the vehicle.

That same morning around 3:00 am, third baseman Andy Marte also died in a car accident in the municipality of Pimentel, from Duarte province. Marte 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. He was traveling alone.

According to a source in the Dominican National Police, the player died at the scene of the accident and his body was transferred to an assistance center in Pimentel.

Ironically in 2014, both players advised fans to drive with caution after learning of the death of fellow baseball player Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend on the Puerto Plata-Sosúa road.

Players across the league mourned the loss of Ventura and Marte on social media.

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