The Major League Baseball community has rallied around Venezuela's Eliezer Alfonzo after he made his debut on the day his sister and stepmother were found dead in the wreckage from the earthquakes in his home nation.
Emotional Debut Amidst Tragedy
The 26-year-old Alfonzo batted ninth in the Dodgers' home game against the San Diego Padres. Alfonzo's 16-year-old sister Eliana and his stepmother Patricia had been missing since multiple earthquakes hit Venezuela on June 24. Their bodies had been found in the wreckage of the hotel in La Guaira where they were staying.
Alfonzo wrote 'E y P RIP' on his Dodgers cap, with countryman and teammate Miguel Rojas also carrying a message of support.
Manager's Heartfelt Reaction
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he hadn't yet spoken to Alfonzo about two hours before the first pitch at Dodger Stadium. "Don't really know what to say about it, outside of my heart goes out to him and his family," Roberts said. "So he is in there. I think he's going to play today, but obviously it's — a heavy heart is not even justifying. I don't want to really go too far, because I'll get emotional. So I don't know. Yeah, I know it's tough. Very tough."
Baseball Family Support
Alfonzo's father Eliezer Alfonzo Sr spent parts of six seasons in the majors as a catcher for four teams from 2006-11. He also spent a year in the Dodgers' minor league system. After appearing in 581 minor league games over the past nine seasons, the Dodgers recalled Alfonzo Jr on Saturday for his first major league opportunity.
Alfonzo spent nearly a decade in the Detroit Tigers' system, progressing as far as their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo last year. He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers last November, and he was batting .313 with 17 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
Opportunity Amidst Adversity
Veteran Dodgers starter Will Smith has been sidelined for nearly a month with a neck injury. Dalton Rushing took over behind the plate with veteran Chuckie Robinson as his backup, but the Dodgers decided to give a chance to Alfonzo this weekend.
