Yorman Landa

Yorman Nicger Landa Tovar

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• Born June 11, 1994 in Santa Teresa del Tuy, Miranda Venezuela
• Died December 10, 2016 in Caracas, Distrito Federal Venezuela

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Yorman Landa was signed by the Minnesota Twins as a 16-year-old in 2010; the scout was Jose Leon. He spent his first pro season, in 2011, with the DSL Twins, going 2-2, 3.38 in 12 games. That winter, in spite of his young age, he saw action with the Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan League. In 2012, he moved to the GCL Twins, where he was 1-3, 2.43, in 10 games.

2013 saw Yorman with the Elizabethton Twins of the Appalachian League where he was 3-4, 2.78 as a full-time starter (he was a swingman in his first two pro seasons). In 2014 he moved up to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League, going 3-1, 2.88 in 13 games, all in relief, but his season ended early with a torn labrum. As a result, he was back with the GCL Twins to start 2015, before returning to Cedar Rapids. His combined record was 3-1, with a sparkling 1.25 ERA in 22 games. In 2016, he pitched 31 times in relief for the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League, going 2-2, 3.24, picking up 7 saves. He was removed from the team's major league roster after the season, but had re-signed with Minnesota, who still considered him a top prospect, as his fastball regularly approached 100 mph.

As he had done every year since 2011, he returned to his native country to pitch winter ball following the 2016 season. That was where he died tragically on December 10th, falling victim to a traffic accident as the car in which he was a passenger crashed into a fallen tree blocking the road during a rainstorm in Miranda state. He was transferred to a hospital in Caracas but died there shortly after being admitted. In 100 career appearances, his ERA was 2.66.

Further Reading

• Rhett Bollinger: "Twins mourn death of Minor Leaguer Landa", mlb.com, December 10, 2016. [1]