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Enmanuel de Jesús, between MLB and Venezuela: 'It's hard to go out and perform well'

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Venezuelan MLB pitcher Enmanuel de Jesús expressed the difficulty of performing well while his country faces tragedy from recent earthquakes.
  • De Jesús and other Venezuelan players from the World Baseball Classic are discussing ways to support those affected by the disaster.
  • He reflected on the fortune of being alive amidst the devastation.

Venezuelan pitcher Enmanuel de Jesús, who plays for the Detroit Tigers, shared the emotional toll of performing in Major League Baseball while his home country grapples with the aftermath of devastating earthquakes. The earthquakes, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck on June 24.

It is really difficult to go out and perform well, to try to keep a clean face when this situation we are living through there is not easy for anyone.

— Enmanuel de JesúsDescribing the emotional challenge of playing baseball while his country suffers from earthquakes.

"It is really difficult to go out and perform well, to try to keep a clean face when this situation we are living through there is not easy for anyone," De Jesús stated, according to a video shared on journalist Pascual Artiles' Instagram account. His most recent appearance was on June 26, contributing to an 8-0 shutout victory over the Houston Astros alongside fellow Venezuelan pitcher Keider Montero.

De Jesús admitted that maintaining focus on baseball is challenging. "It's sad. I try to stay away to concentrate on baseball, but it's really hard," he said. He was a key player for Venezuela when they won their first World Baseball Classic title in March.

It's sad. I try to stay away to concentrate on baseball, but it's really hard.

— Enmanuel de JesúsExpressing the difficulty of separating personal struggles from his professional duties.

Now, he and other Venezuelan players from that championship team are coordinating efforts to provide aid to those most affected by the natural disaster. "We talked in the chat with the guys who played the WBC trying to find a way to support the people in Venezuela, trying to get what they need. Everyone is trying to do something to help," De Jesús explained.

We talked in the chat with the guys who played the WBC trying to find a way to support the people in Venezuela, trying to get what they need. Everyone is trying to do something to help.

— Enmanuel de JesúsDetailing efforts by Venezuelan MLB players to organize aid for earthquake victims.

Reflecting on the situation, De Jesús acknowledged the profound gratitude for being alive. "Sometimes we don't realize how lucky we are to be alive. There were people who woke up on a holiday and then, hours later, might be trapped under a building," he concluded.

Sometimes we don't realize how lucky we are to be alive. There were people who woke up on a holiday and then, hours later, might be trapped under a building.

— Enmanuel de JesúsReflecting on the fragility of life in the wake of the disaster.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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