Dodgers promote Venezuelan catcher Alfonzo Jr. amid family's earthquake search

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliézer Alfonzo Jr. has earned a promotion to Major League Baseball, though the team has not yet officially announced the move. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has spent the 2026 season with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, where he has posted a .313/.392/.422 batting line with an .813 OPS. He has played nine seasons in the minor leagues, first with the Detroit Tigers organization before signing with the Dodgers as a free agent.

Alfonzo Jr. is already part of the Dodgers' 40-man roster. Reports indicate that to make space on the 26-man roster, the Dodgers optioned catcher Chuckie Robinson to Triple-A. For Alfonzo Jr., this call-up represents a dream come true after nearly a decade in the minors, following in the footsteps of his father, who also played in the majors between 2006 and 2011.

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It has been difficult.

However, the catcher's celebration is tempered by a personal tragedy. His younger sister, Eliana, is still missing after being with their mother at the Eduard’s hotel in La Guaira when it collapsed during recent earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24. Upon learning of his promotion, Alfonzo Jr. dedicated a message to his sister on Instagram. His father has expressed his anguish, stating, "It has been difficult." He is coordinating efforts to move machinery to the site to clear debris, holding onto hope for their survival. "I am trusting in God until the last moment. Until I have them in my hands, I continue to believe they are alive," he said, adding, "I know my wife and daughter are very strong."

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I am trusting in God until the last moment. Until I have them in my hands, I continue to believe they are alive. I know my wife and daughter are very strong.