Minnesota Twins Prospect Yorman Landa Killed in Car Accident

Mar 1, 2016; Ft. Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Yorman Landa (81) poses for a portrait on photo day at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Ft. Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Yorman Landa (81) poses for a portrait on photo day at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins received some terrible news this morning when it was learned that prospect Yorman Landa was killed in a car accident. He was only 22 years old.

Yorman Landa was considered one of the Minnesota Twins top prospects. He ranked 20th in the MLB.com list of the Twins top 30 prospects, a hard throwing reliever who had battled injuries throughout his career. Nonetheless, he was expected to become a setup man in the Majors, with his mid 90’s fastball and excellent changeup. If he could stay healthy, Landa was considered one of the best relievers in the Twins system.

Unfortunately, the Twins received tragic news this morning. Landa was killed in a car accident in his native Venezuela. He was just 22 years old.

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It is a tragic, and sudden, ending to what seemed to be a bright future. Landa appeared to be over the injury problems that had plagued him, battling back from labrum issues and a lat strain. However, with his fastball and calmness on the mound, he was expected to rise rapidly through the Twins system if he was healthy.

This is the second time in a matter of months that tragedy has struck the baseball world. Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins ace, also passed away this season, losing his life in a boat accident.

While the details of how the accident came to happen have yet to come forward, that is irrelevant at this time. Instead, it is a time for friends and family to grieve, and to reflect back upon the life of a promising pitcher who left the world far too soon.

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Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of Yorman Landa, and the Minnesota Twins.