KC Royals: Yordano Ventura deserves to be in Royals Hall of Fame

The KC Royals announced their 2019 Hall of Fame finalists and Yordano Ventura made the list. The Royals pitcher tragically lost his life in a car accident in 2017 in the Dominican Republic.

When news broke in 2017 that Yordano Ventura passed away in a car crash, Kansas City Royals and baseball fans everywhere were heartbroken. Here was a kid who, at just 25 years of age, had shown that he could be the next big thing in the major leagues.

Sadly, the world was stripped of that when Ventura tragically passed on in January of 2017. Ventura had the makings of a superstar and the Royals obviously think so too, as they have him in their 2019 Hall of Fame vote.

Some of the other finalists include Johnny Damon, David DeJesus, and Bo Jackson. Ventura being included really shouldn’t be controversial, but there are probably people who don’t think he belongs in the category.

Ventura should not only be included in the vote, but he should make it into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame for one reason: Game 6 of the 2014 World Series.

I’m sure none of you have forgotten that game, but let’s revisit it.

The Royals had fallen to a 3-2 deficit in the World Series and had a chance to force a series-deciding Game 7. Ventura was their starting pitcher for Game 6 against the Giants and it was one that the Royals obviously had to win or else the season would be over.

Ventura had just lost his friend Oscar Taveras, who had passed away in a car crash just days prior to the game. Ventura scribbled “O.T.” on his hat and then went out to the mound and pitched his heart out for his fallen friend.

That performance ended up being one no Royals fan would ever forget.

Ventura went seven innings and shut the Giants offense down completely. He allowed just three hits on the night and was untouchable. It truly was a game to remember for Kansas City Royals fans everywhere.

If Ventura goes out that night and looks even remotely human, there probably isn’t a Game 7. No, the Royals didn’t end up winning the World Series that year, but if they had, Ventura would have a strong case to winning World Series MVP.

If I had to state my case to voters as to why Yordano Ventura should make it into the Royals Hall of Fame, all I’d have to say is “Game 6 – 2014 World Series” and most of them would agree with me.

Most of us expected Yordano Ventura to be a Royal for many, many more years, but we were deprived of that. He didn’t have a chance to show what else he could do and that really sucks.

Even without getting to finish his career the way we wanted, Yordano Ventura did enough to become a member of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.