Eliezer Alfonzo’s MLB Call-Up Amid Family Tragedy
Eliezer Alfonzo had been waiting for that phone call his whole life. So had his younger sister, who’s just 16.
“One of her dreams was to see me play in the big leagues,” he shared, now the backup catcher for the Dodgers. “And today, I’m living that dream as part of a big league team.”
Alfonzo, 26, was officially called up to the Dodgers after a decade spent in the minor leagues. But his big moment is overshadowed by heartache: his sister Eliana and stepmother Patricia went missing following a devastating earthquake in Venezuela.
“I won’t sugarcoat it,” he admitted. “Last week was one of the hardest I’ve ever faced.”
When the earthquake hit, Eliana, Patricia, and Alfonzo’s father, Eliezer Sr., a former MLB catcher, were at the Hotel Eduards in Macto. Alfonzo was playing a game on the Atlantic coast when the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors struck on June 24.
Eliezer Sr. was already at the ballpark, but his wife and daughter were likely still in the hotel, which collapsed. Sadly, at least two wives of league players were confirmed dead.
Rescuers did manage to pull Alfonzo’s dog from the rubble, but he and his family continue to hold onto hope for Eliana and Patricia’s survival.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again,” Alfonzo remarked. “But I trust that God will bless me with a chance to play here in the big leagues.”
Despite the chaos in his personal life, Alfonzo expressed gratitude for the support from the Dodgers during this trying time, which has somehow allowed him to have the best offensive season of his career.
After signing with the Dodgers last winter, he’s hitting .313 with Triple-A Oklahoma City. “Reaching the majors was a big goal for me,” he said. “But it’s also such a responsibility to represent a team as significant as this one in MLB right now.”
When he walked into the Dodger Stadium clubhouse for the first time, he felt a wave of support. “Everyone asked how I was feeling,” he recalled, “and it felt like home.” He shared a long hug with Miguel Rojas, a veteran shortstop and fellow Venezuelan, who had helped his own family during the disaster.
Alfonzo’s call-up came as a surprise. Although starting catcher Will Smith has been out due to injury, the team initially called up Chucky Robinson for the reserve role, but his performance was underwhelming.
Manager Dave Roberts noted they seized the opportunity to give Alfonzo a shot, believing he might bring more offensive production.
On Friday night, Alfonzo was at home watching a game replay when he got the call from coach Scott Hennessey. “I had just said to my girlfriend, ‘I wish we could get there early,'” he recounted. “Then, about 30 minutes later, I was told I was joining the team. It was unexpected and really cool—I’m living the dream.”
Yet, beyond the excitement of baseball, Alfonzo is grappling with significant worries. “It’s tough considering what’s happening right now,” he acknowledged. “But I keep my country and my family in my thoughts. Everything I do is for them, and I want to make them proud.”
