Alcides Escobar Recalls Yordano Ventura's Legacy and Tragic Death
In a recent podcast interview, Alcides Escobar, a former Royals shortstop, reminisced about his teammate Yordano Ventura, who tragically passed away in a car accident in the Dominican Republic on January 22, 2017. Escobar shared his thoughts on Ventura's unique personality and his impact on the team.
Ventura was known for his fearlessness on the mound, with an electric arm capable of reaching 100 mph. He had a reputation for being intense and direct with batters, often saying that he wanted to 'devour' them. This attitude sometimes led to perceptions of arrogance and bad attitude, but Escobar defended his teammate.
Escobar described Ventura as a 'great guy' and recalled a series of brawls the team had with opponents in the 2015 season. He said, 'He wasn’t afraid of Miguel Cabrera when he was batting, whether Albert Pujols was batting. He’d go for it and if he had to hit someone with a pitch, he’d hit them.'
The Royals' 2015 World Series victory was a testament to the team's toughness and unity. Escobar explained, 'And those guys would look out for us too; when we got hit by a ball, they’d come for us and hit their guy with a ball. It wasn’t just Yordano. That group was fierce. To put it bluntly in Dominican slang, we all protected each other. We were always ready.'
One of the most memorable incidents involving Ventura was a 2016 plate appearance where he threw inside to Manny Machado, leading to a brawl. Escobar recounted, 'Do you know what he said? ‘I’m going to get him, I’m going to get him, I’m going to get him, I’m going to get him,’ And he did. You’re not afraid of anyone.'
Escobar also shared a personal story about learning of Ventura's death. He was in Las Sabanas, Venezuela, when his mother woke him up with the news. 'My mom started banging on my door, bang, bang, bang, and shouting, ‘Alcides!’ I opened it and asked, ‘What happened, Mom?’ She said, ‘Ventura died!’ I was stunned.’
Escobar joined his teammates Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, and Eric Hosmer at Ventura's funeral in the Dominican Republic. He described the emotional impact of the event, saying, 'The next day, the Kansas City Royals organized everything. They brought a group of us to the Dominican Republic for the funeral. When I saw Ventura’s mom and she saw me, she ran over and hugged. That moment really broke my heart.'
The loss of Ventura left a profound impact on the team, and Escobar emphasized his unique talent and potential. 'He was just a kid, so young, so full of life. With the potential he had, at that time and in that moment, there wasn’t another pitcher like him.'
This interview provides a glimpse into the personal connection between Escobar and Ventura, highlighting the tragic loss and the lasting impact it had on the Royals organization.
