Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo is slated to make his Major League Baseball debut on Sunday, a moment he has long awaited, even as he grapples with profound personal loss. Reports from Venezuela confirmed that his stepmother and 16-year-old sister, who had been missing since a devastating earthquake, were found dead in the rubble of a hotel. The news arrived just one day after Alfonzo expressed hope that his family might still find them alive.
"I don’t know if I’m gonna see her again or not," Alfonzo said Saturday of his sister, Eliana. "But I’m pretty sure God’s gonna give me the blessing to let her see me play here in the big leagues."
Despite the tragic news, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Alfonzo, 26, would still start Sunday's game behind the plate. Alfonzo, the son of former MLB catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., has spent nearly a decade in the minor leagues working toward this opportunity. Roberts expressed his sympathy for the player, stating, "my heart goes out to him and his family." He added, "He is in there. He’s going to play today. But obviously, heavy heart is not even justifying. So, yeah, I don’t really want to go too far because I’ll get emotional. I don’t know. I know it’s tough. It’s very tough."
Alfonzo joined the Dodgers as a minor-league free agent this offseason after previously being a farmhand for the Twins. He earned his call-up to the majors after batting .313 for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. Upon arriving at the Dodgers' clubhouse on Saturday, he conveyed his appreciation for the support from the organization and his teammates.
"I’m not gonna lie to you," Alfonzo said. "Last week was probably one of the toughest weeks of my life."
His family had maintained hope for the survival of his sister and stepmother, especially after their family dog was found alive on Friday. However, the confirmation of their deaths came on what should have been a career high point for Alfonzo. "I know it’s difficult with everything that is happening right now," he had stated the day before the news. "But at the same time, I got my country, my family, on my heart, on my mind. Everything I do is because of them. So I’m gonna make them proud."