Yordano Ventura leaves game with injury
By Will Osgood
Kansas City Royals No. 1 starter Yordano Ventura left Monday’s Opening Day start early with an apparent injury.
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When James Shields left the Kansas City Royals in the offseason to sign with the Padres, it left a hole in the Royals’ arsenal at the top of the rotation. Though the starting staff is as deep as any in baseball, the Royals needed a guy who could be a true ace.
Manager Ned Yost dubbed 22-year-old flamethrower Yordano Ventura that guy, at least for Opening Day to make the emotional start for Kansas City, which coincided with the Royals raising their first championship banner in 29 years and handing out AL championship rings.
Yet Monday’s opener, a soon-to-be sure win, was not all hugs and smiles.
Yordano Ventura left the game with a right thumb cramp, will be re-evaluated.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 6, 2015
The injury occurred in the seventh inning as the Royals led 4-1 to against their NL Central rivals, the Chicago White Sox. Ventura mostly cruised for six innings, allowing just one run–a home run to the powerful first baseman of the White Sox, Jose Abreu, in the seventh inning.
The slightly built 6’0″, 180 pound righty, however fell to the ground after a pitch shortly after Abreu’s home run. He was grimacing in pain, and it was nearly impossible for anyone looking on to know what was taking place.
In truth, it being a right thumb cramp was a relief to Ventura, the Royals, and their fans. It also helped that came after a solid effort for the young star.
Final line on Ventura: 6.0 IP+1 batter, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 1 HBP. #Royals
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 6, 2015
With the Royals leading 9-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, it was almost certain that Ventura would end the day with more than just a solid outing, but also a win, his first of the 2015 season.
Assuming that Ventura is okay when he is re-evaluated, the season’s opening game will be remembered much the same way that the end of the 2014 season was–as a great success.
Ventura was outstanding a year ago in his first full major league season, posting a 3.20 ERA in 183 innings, striking out 7.8 batters per nine innings.
He was equally good in five postseason appearances, literally matching his regular season ERA in 25.1 innings for the Royals team which came up just a run short of a world championship.
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