Every ballplayer waits for the phone call that changes their life. For nine long years, Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. grinded through the minor leagues, playing in small towns, riding buses, and wondering if his major league moment would ever come.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers finally called him up, it should have been the happiest day of his life. Instead, it arrived wrapped in a nightmare.
While Alfonzo Jr. packs his gear for the big leagues, his father, former San Francisco Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., is standing in front of a massive mountain of rubble in La Guaira, Venezuela. He is digging through the remnants of a collapsed eight-story hotel with his bare hands and heavy machinery. Beneath that concrete are his 16-year-old daughter, Eliana, and his wife, Patricia.
How do you focus on hitting a big-league fastball when your family is buried in the aftermath of a natural disaster? You don't. You just try to breathe.
The Shocking Reality of the Venezuelan Earthquakes
On June 24, a pair of massive earthquakes tore through Venezuela. The devastation is widespread, with the death toll climbing past 2,600 people and thousands more still missing under the ruins. It stands as one of the worst earthquake disasters in Latin America's recent history.
For the Alfonzo family, the disaster struck with surgical, cruel precision. Alfonzo Sr. currently manages the Delfines de La Guaira in Venezuela's professional winter league. On the day of the disaster, his wife and daughter were on the fourth floor of the Hotel Eduard's in Macuto, getting ready to head to the ballpark to watch him coach.
Then the ground shook, and the building pancaked.
For over nine days, rescue crews have worked around the clock. The scene at the hotel is frantic. Gold miners from the southern town of Tumeremo rushed to the coast, using their specialized skills to tunnel deep into the twisted metal and concrete. American rescue teams have joined local authorities, using trained dogs to sniff for signs of life.
There was a tiny sliver of hope. Rescuers pulled Mila, the family’s three-month-old puppy, out of the rubble alive. Her faint barking alerted handlers to a pocket of air within the wreckage.
"If my daughter's dog turned up, I think they're both there because I know they're quite resilient," Alfonzo Sr. told reporters at the scene. He is refusing to leave. He vows to stay until he holds them in his arms.
A Bitter Sweet Promotion in Los Angeles
Back in the United States, the Dodgers found themselves in a roster crunch. All-Star catcher Will Smith has been sidelined since early June with severe neck inflammation, and backup Chuckie Robinson struggled to produce, going just 2-for-23 at the plate.
The front office needed a bat. They looked down at Triple-A Oklahoma City and saw Alfonzo Jr. tearing the cover off the ball, slashing .313/.392/.422 through 49 games.
The baseball decision was easy. The emotional reality is brutal.
Fans on internet forums and social media immediately began debating the logistics of the move. Some wondered why Alfonzo Jr. didn't take a leave of absence to fly to Venezuela to join his father. But anyone close to the game understands the harsh economic realities of professional baseball.
Alfonzo Jr. spent eight seasons in the Detroit Tigers' farm system making pennies compared to major league standards. He signed a minor league deal with Los Angeles last winter. Getting called up to the major leagues, even for a week, means a massive jump in pay and secures elite health and logistical resources. In a crisis, the best thing a young ballplayer can do for his family is secure the financial means to support them. He can fund private recovery efforts, medical bills, and travel expenses.
The Alfonzo Baseball Legacy Under a Dark Cloud
Baseball runs deep in this family. The older Alfonzo was a fan favorite in San Francisco, playing six seasons in the big leagues from 2006 to 2011. He was known for his big swing and his passion for the game. Interestingly, his final major league contract was a minor league deal with the Dodgers back in 2013, though he never made it to the big club.
Now, his son is finishing that unfinished business under the worst possible circumstances.
Former players are stepping up to help. Legendary Venezuelan catcher Yadier Molina was spotted at the collapse site in La Guaira, working alongside Alfonzo Sr., bringing donations, and using his platform to keep the international spotlight on the rescue mission.
The Dodgers are easing Alfonzo Jr. into the mix, but the spotlight will be blinding when he steps into the batter's box for his debut. Baseball is a game of hyper-focus. It requires blocking out the crowd, the lights, and the pressure. But nobody can block out the thought of a missing sister and stepmother.
If you want to support the family or follow the situation, keep your eyes on verified news feeds out of La Guaira. The search operations at the Hotel Eduard's are entering a critical phase, and the baseball world is collectively holding its breath for a miracle on the coast of Venezuela.
