Dodgers C to debut despite tragedy in Venezuela

Alden GonzalezJul 5, 2026, 06:56 PM ET

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ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

LOS ANGELES -- Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting catcher for Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres, will make his major league debut with a heavy heart. According to reports out of Venezuela, Alfonzo's stepmom and sister were found dead from the earthquakes that ravaged the nation last week.

Alfonzo, 26, was called up Saturday after spending the last nine years toiling in the Detroit Tigers' minor league system, and expressed hope that his stepmom, Patricia, and younger sister, Eliana, might be found. The two had been missing for nine days, ever since twin 7-plus-magnitude earthquakes struck the northern part of Venezuela on June 25.

But multiple reports out of Venezuela stated Sunday morning that they had been found dead.

Alfonzo, the son of retired major league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, was signed by the Dodgers as a minor league free agent in November and was slashing .313/.392/.422 in Triple-A. The Dodgers called him up to replace Chuckie Robinson, who was serving as the backup to Dalton Rushing while starter Will Smith deals with a neck injury.

"Don't really know what to say about it outside of my heart goes out to him and his family," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Alfonzo playing through grief. "He is in there. He's in play today, but obviously, heavy heart's not even justifying. I don't really wanna go too far because I'll get emotional. I know it's tough. Very tough."