Former Major Leaguers Marte and Ventura die in car crash

Former Major League infielder Andy Marte died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. He was 33 years old.

Also, former Major League pitcher Yordano Ventura was killed in a separate crash as well.

"Words can't express the emotions from the loss of our client Andy Marte. Gone too soon. A great person on and off the field," Marte's agency, J.M.G. baseball, said on Twitter.

Marte signed with the Braves in 2000 as an international free agent and was ranked No. 9 on MLB.com's 2005 Top 50 Prospects list.

After breaking into the Majors in 2005, he was traded to the Indians in '06 and spent five seasons with the club. His best year came in '09, when he hit .232 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 47 games.

Marte played in just six games for the D-backs in 2014, before signing with the KT Wiz in South Korea. Over the last two seasons, he hit .312 and belted over 20 home runs both campaigns

Ventura, 25, signed with the Royals in 2008 and has been with the team since. He made his major-league debut in 2013 and pitched his first full season the following year, placing sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. He was a key part of the rotation in Kansas City’s trips to the World Series in 2014 and 2015.