Yordano Ventura

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ventura and the second or maternal family name is Hernandez.
Yordano Ventura

Ventura with the Kansas City Royals in 2015
Kansas City Royals – No. 30
Pitcher
Born: (1991-06-03) June 3, 1991
Samaná, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 17, 2013, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record 38–31
Earned run average 3.89
WHIP 1.34
Strikeouts 470
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Yordano Ventura Hernández (born June 3, 1991) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was twice named to the All-Star Futures Game. Ventura made his MLB debut on September 17, 2013. Known as a 'power pitcher', his fastball has been much valued by the Royals for the past few years. In 2014, Ventura made the news when his 96.2 mph average fastball velocity (96.4 for two-seamers) ranked second-best in the whole of MLB among starters, putting him just behind Garrett Richards.[1]

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Ventura signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in 2008, receiving a $28,000 signing bonus.[2] He began the 2012 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League, and was named to appear in both the Carolina-California League All-Star Game and the All-Star Futures Game. He was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League later that season.[3]

The Royals invited Ventura to spring training for 2013.[4] Ventura began the 2013 season with Northwest Arkansas, but received a promotion to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in June, after he pitched to a 2.34 earned run average (ERA) and 74 strikeouts in  57 2⁄3 innings pitched with the Naturals.[5] He was again named to the World Team's roster for the All-Star Futures Game.[6]

Kansas City Royals

2013 season

The Royals promoted Ventura to the major leagues to make his debut on September 17, 2013, following the Storm Chasers' victory in the PCL championship series. He pitched for the Royals instead of pitching for the Storm Chasers in the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game against the Durham Bulls of the International League.[7] In three starts for the Royals, Ventura pitched to a 3.52 ERA.[8]

2014 season

During spring training in 2014, Ventura won the final spot in the Royals' starting rotation over Danny Duffy.[8] During the regular season of 2014, Ventura went 14–10 with a 3.20 ERA.[9] He started the second game of the playoff series between the Royals and Angels on October 3, 2014, pitching seven innings and giving up one run, in a game the Royals won 4–1 over the Angels.[10] In Game 2 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants Ventura allowed two runs in a 7–2 win for the Royals. In Game 6, with the team down in the series 3–2, Ventura threw seven shutout innings in a 10–0 victory, forcing a Game 7. Prior to the game, Ventura had dedicated his performance to his friend and fellow countryman Oscar Taveras who was killed in a car accident on October 26. Ventura pitched the game with the message "RIP O.T #18" written on his hat.

2015 season

Ventura signed a five-year, $23 million contract with the Royals before the 2015 season.[11] Named the Royals' 2015 Opening Day starting pitcher, he started against the Chicago White Sox on April 6, 2015, where he pitched six innings until leaving the game with a right thumb cramp. He got plenty of support as the Royals won 10–1 over the White Sox.[12]

In April 2015, Ventura was involved in bench-clearing incidents in three consecutive starts.[13] During an April 13 game against the Los Angeles Angels, Ventura stared down Mike Trout after a single up the middle. After Trout scored later in the inning, Ventura again confronted him and the benches cleared.[14] During a game against the Oakland Athletics on April 18, 2015, Ventura was ejected for the first time in his MLB career after intentionally hitting Brett Lawrie with a pitch.[15] On April 22, Ventura was fined an undisclosed amount and was not suspended for any games.[16] The next day, Ventura exchanged words with White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton that Ventura was thought to have instigated as he fielded Eaton's ground ball, which initiated a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams. Five total players, including Ventura, were ejected. On April 25, 2015, Ventura was suspended 7 games.[17] He had the option to appeal but dropped it on April 30, 2015 so the suspension would take effect.[18]

Ventura pitched to a 5.19 ERA before the Royals optioned him to Omaha on July 21.[19] Jason Vargas, his replacement in the starting rotation, injured his elbow that night, and Ventura was recalled the next day.[20] However, his season began to turn for the positive after the team acquired Johnny Cueto at the MLB Trade Deadline. Since August 11, 2015, Ventura has posted a 1.13 ERA, with 43 strikeouts.[21] In the 2015 regular season, Ventura pitched to a 13-8 record with a 4.08 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

On October 8, he pitched Game 1 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros, exiting after two innings and giving up three earned runs in what became a 5-2 loss.[22] In Game 4 on October 12 he pitched 5 innings in a 9-6 win over the Astros. Ventura gave up the lead in the fifth inning, but the Royals rallied to score seven runs off the Houston bullpen.[23] Ventura started Game 2 of the ALCS on October 17 against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing 3 runs in a 6-3 Kansas City victory.[24] He also pitched in Game 6 of that series on October 23, allowing only one run. Kansas City won 4-3 and advanced to the World Series. [25] In Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Mets, Ventura gave up five runs and was the losing pitcher. In five postseason games he pitched to a 6.43 ERA and did not earn a win.[26]

2016 season

In a game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 7, 2016, another spoiler arose. During the second inning, Ventura threw several pitches inside to Manny Machado and the two exchanged words. Machado's next at-bat occurred in the fifth inning, with Baltimore leading 5-1. With the first pitch of the at-bat, Ventura hit Machado with a 99-mph fastball. Machado stormed after Ventura, causing a bench-clearing brawl. Both players were ejected.[27] Two days later, Ventura was fined an undisclosed amount and suspended 9 games. On June 18, he started serving the suspension that was reduced to 8 games.

Scouting report

Ventura can throw a fastball topping out at 102 mph. His repertoire of pitches also includes a curveball, and a change-up.[28]

As stated before, Ventura's 96.2 mph average fastball velocity (96.4 for two-seamers) brought him the coveted slot of being ranked second-best in the whole of MLB among starters in 2014.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 http://wallstcheatsheet.com/sports/8-mlb-pitchers-throwing-100-mph-or-faster-in-2014.html/?a=viewall#ixzz3MacECC3m
  2. ↑ "Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | Royals' Investment In Yordano Ventura Paying Off". Baseball America. June 14, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  3. ↑  / . "Pitcher Yordano Ventura promoted to Class AA Northwest Arkansas | royals.com: News". Kansascity.royals.mlb.com. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Royals invite 21 non-roster players to big-league camp". KansasCity.com. October 18, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Jirschele: New Chaser Ventura has better fastball than Greinke". Omaha.com. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kansas City Royals prospects Miguel Almonte, Yordano Ventura successful in Futures Game appearances | royals.com: News". Mlb.com. July 14, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Royals call up Yordano Ventura to start Tuesday for injured Danny Duffy". KansasCity.com. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Yordano Ventura wins final spot in Royals' rotation". KansasCity.com. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ ESPN statistics on Yordano Ventura
  10. ↑ Mellinger, Sam (October 4, 2014). "Yordano Ventura comes of age in Royals' extra-inning ALDS game two". Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Royals, pitcher Ventura agree on 5-year, $23 million extension". Fox Sports. Associated Press. April 4, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ Short, D.J. "Ventura does well on opening day despite thumb cramp.". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "The reason why the Royals have considered trading Yordano Ventura". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Mike Trout, Yordano Ventura Get Into It As Benches Clear In Anaheim (Video)". NESN.com. April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ Townsend, Mark. "Ventura ejected for beaning Lawrie.". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ McCullough, Andy. "Ventura fined an undisclosed amount for hitting Lawrie.". kansascity.com. The Kansas City Star. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Ventura suspended 7 games for Brawl.". MLB.com. MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ Fordin, Spencer. "Ventura drops appeal, will serve 7 game suspension.". MLB.com. MLB.com. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  19. ↑ McCullough, Andy (July 21, 2015). "Yordano Ventura, Royals' opening day starter, sent to minor leagues as team activates Jason Vargas". Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Jason Vargas placed on DL with torn elbow ligament, Yordano Ventura recalled". Kansas City Star. July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Yordano Ventura". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  22. ↑ Wire, SI. "Astros defeat Royals 5–2 in ALDS Game 1". www.si.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Royals' five-run inning beats Astros in Game 4". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Royals' Yordano Ventura pitches through command issues against Jays in Game 2". kansascity. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Yordano Ventura gives Royals a strong start to ALCS Game 6". kansascity. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Yordano Ventura Postseason Pitching Gamelogs | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Royals' Yordano Ventura hits O's Manny Machado". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  28. ↑ "FanGraphs Yordano Ventura Pitch FX". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
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