Kansas City Royals: 11 defining moments from past decade

KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 30: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates after hitting a walk off single to defeat the tOakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Stroth/MLB via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 30: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates after hitting a walk off single to defeat the tOakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Stroth/MLB via Getty Images) /
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Players observe a moment of silence for deceased pitcher Yordano Ventura #30 prior to the Royals 2017 home opener (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Players observe a moment of silence for deceased pitcher Yordano Ventura #30 prior to the Royals 2017 home opener (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Most Heartbreaking Moment of the Decade

On January 22, 2017, tragedy struck not only the Kansas City Royals franchise, but the entire world of baseball. Yordano Ventura, just 25 but already a three-year veteran pitcher, died in an automobile accident in his home country of the Dominican Republic.

Yordano Ventura Career Highlights. light. FLASHBACK

It was terrible news, and it’s still saddening to think back on. Ventura was more than just a solid starting pitcher for the Royals between 2014-2016. He was a fiery competitor, a loyal teammate, and, by all accounts, an unselfish and great person off the baseball diamond, too.

There really isn’t much more to say, except that Ventura will always be missed. His untimely passing is by far and away the Royals’ most heartbreaking, saddest moment of the last decade.