Alfonzo makes – Catcher Eliézer Alfonzo made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, batting ninth and catching Emmet Sheehan. His 16-year-old sister, Eliana, and his stepmother, Patricia, have been missing since earthquakes struck Ve
When Eliézer Alfonzo walked onto the field at Dodger Stadium for his major league debut, it came with a weight that didn’t fit into baseball’s usual rhythm. The catcher was in the starting lineup for the Dodgers’ home game against the San Diego Padres, batting ninth and catching Emmet Sheehan.
The moment was bright on the scoreboard. The reality behind it was grim. Alfonzo’s 16-year-old sister. Eliana. and his stepmother. Patricia. have been missing since multiple earthquakes hit his homeland on June 24 in Venezuela. Several Latin American media outlets reported Sunday that their bodies had been found in the wreckage of the hotel in La Guaira where they were staying. but the Dodgers announced no confirmation of those reports.
About two hours before first pitch, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had not yet spoken to Alfonzo. Roberts spoke with the caution of someone trying to balance the game in front of him with what was happening to a player’s family back home. “Don’t really know what to say about it. outside of my heart goes out to him and his family. ” Roberts said. “So he is in there. I think he’s going to play today, but obviously it’s — a heavy heart is not even justifying. I don’t want to really go too far, because I’ll get emotional. So I don’t know. Yeah, I know it’s tough. Very tough.”.
It was the kind of sentence that tells you everything without pretending it can explain anything.
Alfonzo’s path to this debut has been steady, shaped by years of grinding in the minors. After appearing in 581 minor league games over the past nine seasons, the Dodgers recalled him on Saturday for his first major league opportunity.
He spent nearly a decade in the Detroit Tigers’ system, progressing as far as their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo last year. This season, he was hitting .313 with 17 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers last November.
Sunday’s lineup decision also came because of an injury that had already changed the catching picture. Veteran Dodgers starter Will Smith has been sidelined for nearly a month with a neck injury. Dalton Rushing took over behind the plate with veteran Chuckie Robinson as his backup. but the Dodgers decided to give Alfonzo his chance this weekend.
Alfonzo is no stranger to the majors, either. His father, Eliézer Alfonzo Sr., spent parts of six seasons in the majors as a catcher for four teams from 2006-11, and he also spent a year in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
With his family’s situation still shrouded in unanswered confirmation. the Dodgers’ decision to bring Alfonzo up landed with sharper edges than a typical debut. For now. he’s playing in the majors—while the rest of the story. the one happening in La Guaira. remains unfinished in the only place that matters most to him: at home.
Eliézer Alfonzo Dodgers MLB debut Padres Emmet Sheehan Venezuela earthquakes La Guaira Eliana Alfonzo Patricia Alfonzo Dave Roberts Will Smith neck injury Dalton Rushing Chuckie Robinson Triple-A Oklahoma City Eliézer Alfonzo Sr.