Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliézer Alfonzo made his major league debut on Sunday, just hours after learning his sister and stepmother were found dead in Venezuela. The discovery came days after powerful earthquakes, recorded at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck the region where his sister, 16-year-old Eliana Alfonzo, and stepmother, Patricia, had been missing since June 24.
Alfonzo, 26, had been called up by the Dodgers on Saturday and initially held out hope that his sister and stepmother were alive. After learning of their confirmed deaths, he spoke with his father and brother, who encouraged him to play.
"They gave me their support and asked me to go out onto the field and enjoy this day and do it for my sister," Alfonzo said.
He played seven innings as catcher before being removed for a pinch-hitter in the Dodgers' 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. He grounded out to short in his first at-bat and flied out to center field in the sixth.
Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, also from Venezuela, expressed understanding for Alfonzo's decision to play. "We are trying to go after a dream that is not just our dream," Rojas said. "I'm pretty sure that he feels the same way, that this is the dream of his sister, his father, his whole family."
Rojas, whose own wife and children were in Venezuela when the earthquakes struck, described the profound impact of the disaster on Venezuelans. "It's really hard," Rojas said. "I think I've been in shock for the last 10 days." He added that the feeling of being in the U.S. while such tragedy unfolded at home is difficult to reconcile.
Alfonzo's father, Eliézer Alfonzo Sr., is a former major league catcher who played for six seasons. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was a teammate of Alfonzo Sr. on the San Francisco Giants in 2007 and 2008.
Rojas described Alfonzo Sr. as "a legend" and a significant inspiration to Venezuelan players. "Everybody loves him, to be honest with you," Rojas said. "If you ask any Venezuelan player, they will say that Eliezer Alfonzo is one of the biggest [inspirations] and the guy who always played the game with a lot of joy."
Alfonzo inscribed the first initials of his sister and stepmother on his cap as a tribute. Fans at Petco Park stood and applauded when his name was announced for his first at-bat.
"I felt very emotional and very happy when I heard my name announced to take my first at-bat, to feel the support from the fans," Alfonzo said. "It's something I appreciated very much and something I'll always keep in my heart."