'Shock': L.A. Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, who received the devastating news of his family's death just before his MLB debut after nine long years, also expressed his profound despair with Roberts, saying, "I don't know what to say..."

*This content was translated by AI.

After an agonizing wait of nine long years, he finally stood on the dream stage he had always envisioned. Yet, before he could fully savor that joy, an unimaginable and cruel tragedy struck. Eliezer Alfonzo (27), a Venezuelan-born catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, learned just hours before his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut that all of his family members had perished in a powerful earthquake that devastated his homeland, Venezuela.

Multiple U.S. media outlets, including the New York Post, reported on the 6th (Korean time) that "just moments before Alfonzo was set to make his big league debut, he received the earth-shattering news that all of his family members had died without being able to evacuate in time due to a recent powerful earthquake in Venezuela."

Having spent an entire nine years since 2017 solely in the minor leagues, enduring tears-soaked bread and dreaming only of a call-up to the big leagues, this cruel tragedy that struck on his debut day has sent shockwaves and deep sorrow through the baseball world.

According to local reports, Alfonzo's family members, except for his father Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., who was also a former baseball player, went missing following a magnitude 7.0 or stronger earthquake that hit Venezuela on June 25. Later, during the earthquake recovery efforts, Alfonzo's mother and younger sister were found deceased.

Immediately after learning of his family's deaths, Alfonzo fell into overwhelming grief and shock, but it is reported that he ultimately overcame his sorrow and took to the field. In a recent interview, he shared his heart-wrenching feelings, stating, "To be honest, last week was the most difficult period of my life."

On the 6th, Alfonzo started as the designated hitter and catcher in the Dodgers' home game against the San Diego Padres, batting ninth. He went hitless in two at-bats. He was out on a shortstop grounder in his first at-bat in the third inning and flew out to center field in the bottom of the sixth. He was replaced by pinch-hitter Tommy Edman in the bottom of the seventh with one out, runners on first and second, and the team trailing 1-5, marking his exit from the game.

Even the Dodgers organization and coaching staff could not hide their deep sorrow in light of this shocking news. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts struggled to hold back his emotions during a pre-game interview, barely managing to speak.

After the game, Manager Roberts bowed his head and said, "Aside from conveying my thoughts to him and his family, I truly don't know what else to say." He added, "I don't want to talk about it in more depth because emotions overwhelm me. I only know that this is an incredibly difficult situation, one that is far too hard."

On the day he should have been happiest—his debut day—Alfonzo faced the most brutal sorrow imaginable. News of his plight has prompted not only his Dodgers teammates but the entire Major League Baseball community to express their deepest condolences.

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*This content was translated by AI.