Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. makes his MLB debut Sunday amid a personal tragedy connected to the Venezuelan earthquakes. Multiple reports say Alfonzo learned before the game that his younger sister and stepmother were found dead after the earthquakes in Venezuela. Earlier coverage described the sister, 16-year-old Eliana, and stepmother, Patricia, as missing following the earthquakes that struck his homeland on June 24, with some family members last reported in the rubble of a hotel.
Despite the loss, Alfonzo appears in the Dodgers’ game against the San Diego Padres, batting ninth and catching Emmet Sheehan, according to Yahoo Sports. Other outlets describe his debut as occurring just days after he is called up to the major leagues. Reports also note that nearly 3,000 people have been reported dead in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
Across the coverage, the focus remains on both the start of Alfonzo’s major league career and the fate of his family members in Venezuela following the disaster.
