Minnesota Twins prospect Yorman Landa has passed away.
The minor league pitcher was killed in a car accident early Saturday in his native Venezuela, a Pioneer Press reporter announced on Twitter. He was only 22 years old.
Horrible news out of Venezuela this morning, where #mntwins RHP Yorman Landa has died in a car accident. He was 22.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) December 10, 2016
A Class A right-hander, Landa had been with the Twins for seven seasons since signing as a 16-year old from Santa Teresa, Venezuela in 2010, the team said in a news release.
And he had just signed a minor league contract with them earlier this week, which included an invite to spring training.
Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey released a statement on behalf of the organization Saturday morning:
“The Minnesota Twins are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of Yorman Landa early this morning in Venezuela. On behalf of the entire baseball community, we send our sincerest condolences to the Landa family as well as Yorman’s many friends, coaches and teammates.”
Landa was a hard-throwing right-hander whose fastball could reach 100 mph, the release says. He posted a 3.89 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings with Class A Advanced Fort Myers in 2016.
We are heartbroken over the passing of #MNTwins prospect Yorman Landa. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/ciAt0FAJML
— Twins Photography (@TwinsPics) December 10, 2016
But he had shoulder issues and was removed from the Twins’ 40-man roster before the non-tender deadline. Landa had a 2.66 ERA in 100 career appearances in the Minors, the release said.
According to the Pioneer Press, he was rated the Twins’ No. 24 prospect by Baseball America after the 2015 season and more recently was rated their 20th-best prospect by MLB.com.
