by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Royals starting pitcher prospect Yordano Ventura continues to pitch lights out for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Ventura tossed a third straight scoreless outing Saturday, lowering his season ERA to 1.57 through seven starts.
Ventura (3-0) hasn't allowed a run in his last 16 innings, while allowing five hits and eight walks. He has a pair of 10-strikeout games in that span and 24 total strikeouts in his last three starts.
Ventura has struck out 47 batters in 34 1/3 innings, while issuing 14 walks and allowing just one home run. Opponents are batting .174 against the right-handed hurler, who is considered the Royals' third-best prospect by MLB.com.
Yordano Ventura mowing down Double-A hitters
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Royals starting pitcher prospect Yordano Ventura struck out a season-high 10 batters in five scoreless innings Tuesday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, improving to 2-0 through five starts. Ventura allowed one hit and three walks.
"He had three major league-ready pitches tonight," Naturals pitching coach Jim Brower said, per MLB.com. "He did a great job keeping the fastball down. I think it was averaging around 97-98, so he was blowing it by guys too. But more than that, he was hitting his spots. He controlled his curveball well too and was throwing it in a number of counts, including 3-2 for strikeouts. And he had a good changeup too. So overall, it was a really strong night for him."
Ventura is now second in the Texas League in strikeouts with 33. Ventura hasn't had less than five strikeouts in a start. He has a 2.31 ERA and .200 opponents' batting average in 23 1/3 innings. He's allowed one home run and walked nine batters.
Yordano Ventura working on offspeed pitches
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/15/2013) Royals starting pitcher prospect Yordano Ventura has recorded 12 strikeouts through his first two starts (10 innings) for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Ventura, who threw five shutout innings Saturday, is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and .229 opponents' batting average.
"I'm trying to be good on the mound everywhere, it doesn't matter where I am this year," Ventura said through pitcher Santiago Garrido, who served as a translator, per MLB.com. "It doesn't matter where I end up this year, I'm just going to do the best I can."
Ventura, who missed out on making the Royals' rotation this spring, is working on his changeup and curveball. He's considered the Royals' third-best prospect by MLB.com.
"I'm trying to work more with my offspeed (pitches). I can learn something new," he said. "I'm trying to work on my offspeed (pitches) because I think it's going to make me a lot better."
Yordano Ventura doesn't let up
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/21/2013) Though Royals starting pitcher prospect Yordano Ventura has been sent back to minor-league camp, he made a lasting impression during his time in major-league camp.
One scout told ESPN: "He's the only pitcher I've ever seen who hit 102 (mph) warming up."
Ventura went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in five spring outings (two starts). He also had seven strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. Ventura, who was competing for a spot in the rotation, is considered a top 100 prospect by MLB.com (No. 60) and Baseball America (No. 85).
Royals make several roster moves
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/18/2013) The Kansas City Royals made several roster moves on Monday prior to the Cactus League game against the Rangers. The Royals reassigned pitchers Blaine Boyer, Michael Mariot, Brian Sanches and Yordano Ventura to minor-league camp.
Teaford, Smith and Adcock have all seen time in the majors and could come up for the Royals at some point this season.
Yordano Ventura hits first spring bump
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/16/2013) Royals pitching prospect Yordano Ventura struggled for the first time in Cactus League action Friday, as the Dodgers jumped on him for three runs in three innings.
Ventura allowed five hits, with the big blow coming on a two-run home run by Yasiel Puig in the first inning. He struck out just one batter, raising his ERA to 3.86 on the spring.
Ventura is Baseball America's 85th-ranked prospect coming into the season after posting a 3.62 ERA over 109 1/3 innings across three minor-league levels.
He is not expected to break camp with the team this season, but could be called up at some point this year.
Ventura extends hitless streak in start
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/9/2013) With Wade Davis scratched due to shoulder soreness, Royals prospect Yordano Ventura earned his first start of the spring Saturday against the Giants in Cactus League play. Ventura pitched three scoreless innings without allowing a hit as he walked two and struck out three to pick up the win. "The breaking ball and changeup were good, the fastball was hard and down -- very good," Ventura said.
