Twins prospect Yorman Landa dies in car accident in Venezuela

Minnesota Twins minor leaguer Yorman Landa has died, the team announced in a statement early Saturday. According to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, the cause of death was a car accident in Landa’s native Venezuela.

“The Minnesota Twins are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of Yorman Landa early this morning in Venezuela,” said Twins executive Derek Falvey in a statement. “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.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Yorman Landa, #MNTwins @MiLB pitcher who tragically passed away last night in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/kEbwu57ksC

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 10, 2016

Daniel Szew, who represented Landa, also released a statement.

I am devastated by the tragic news of Yorman Landa’s passing. He was not only an amazing pitcher with a very promising future but one of the most humble and sincere players I had the honor to represent. He was one of my first clients and like a little brother to me. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends and fans. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers today. Be in peace mi hermanito!

Berardino writes that Landa was the only fatality among the four or perhaps five occupants in the car, according to his sources. It’s believed Landa was in the passenger seat of a car driven by his father. No other details of the accident have been made available, though it is noted the weather conditions were rainy.

Landa was signed by the Twins as a 16-year-old in 2010 from Santa Teresa del Tuy, Venezuela. He was brought along slowly as a young pitching prospect, having logged only 223 innings over six seasons in the minor leagues. He required shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2014, but rebounded to reestablish himself as a potential prospect in 2016.

Landa spent the entire 2016 season with high Class A Fort Myers of the Florida State League. It’s reported his fastball hit 102 mph during an appearance in the league’s All-Star game in June. He would go on to miss the final six weeks of the regular season with a strained lat muscle, but the Twins remained high on him after re-signing him earlier this week.

Landa was most recently ranked as the Twins’ 20th best prospect by MLB.com.