In a darkened corner of Bartle Hall, fans walked quietly, reverently, around a makeshift pitcher’s mound built in tribute to Yordano Ventura, the Royals ace who died in a car accident last Sunday.
The loss of No. 30 was the pervasive theme at this weekend’s Royals FanFest — but it wasn’t the only theme.
A few steps away from the memorial, fans standing in a snaking line broke into whoops and applause. Third baseman Mike Moustakas had just stepped up to sign autographs. Score!
Down the way, kids sprinted as if they were rounding third base to get their picture taken with Sluggerrr, the huggable Royals mascot.