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Andy Marte, former Cleveland Indians infielder, killed in car accident



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Andy Marte, who played parts of five seasons with the Indians, was killed in a car accident Sunday morning in his native Dominican Republic. Marte was 33.

JMG Baseball, the agency representing Marte, Tweeted news of his death Sunday morning.

Dominican authorities also confirmed to the Associated Press that Yordano Ventura, Kansas City's ace right-hander, was killed in a car accident on Sunday morning as well. The accidents were separate.

Ventura was 25.

Marte played for the Indians from 2006 through 2010. He was acquired in a multi-player trade on Jan. 27, 2006 with Boston. The Red Sox sent Marte, Guillermo Mota, Kelly Shoppach, Randy Newsom and cash to the Indians. The Indians sent Coco Crisp, Josh Bard and David Riske to the Red Sox.

The Indians felt Marte was going to give them right-handed power from the middle of the lineup. Marte earned that reputation in the minors with Atlanta where he hit 82 homers over five minor league seasons to become one of the game's top prospects.

Marte made his big league debut with the Braves in 2005 and was traded to the Red Sox for Edgar Renteria on Dec. 8. Just over a month later, the Red Sox sent him to the Indians.

In parts of five seasons with the Indians, Marte hit .224 (175-for-781) with 20 homers and 92 RBI. His longest stay in the big leagues came in 2010 when he played 81 games with the Indians. Marte hit .229 (39-for-170) with five homers and 19 RBI, bouncing between third and first base.

Marte, in an 11-4 loss to the Yankees on July 29 of that season, made an emergency pitching appearance in the ninth inning for manager Manny Acta. Marte retired the Yankees in order, registering a strikeout against Nick Swisher.

After 2010, Marte did not appear in the big leagues until 2014 when he played six games with Arizona. He spent the last two years in Korea with KT Whiz where he hit a combined .312 with 44 homers and 163 RBI.

Matt LaPorta, one of Marte's teammates with the Indians, said on Facebook, "So sad. He was a great teammate of mine."



http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2017/01/andy_marte_former_cleveland_in.html

sad thing. RIP Andy

Man, you just never know when your time is going to come.

In addition to Marte's death, KC Pitcher Yordano Ventura was killed in a separate car accident.

Way too young.

I pray that God brings His peace and comfort to their families and friends.

I haven't driven in the Domican Republic before, just a few shuttles from the airport, I would never drive myself in the Dominican Republic. I have drove through a lot of Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, and they drivers are crazy. Even the police will split two cars on a highway on a motorcycle. I saw locals pass me on a double yellow over a hill, be very much a defensive driver internationally. I was shocked at the driving habits, unfortunately I wasn't overly surprised at this news.