Two hours before the Dodgers game in Minneapolis on Wednesday, a series of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. Shortstop Miguel Rojas’s family was in the country during these events. The quakes hit the northern coastal state of La Guaira, causing significant destruction.
The earthquake pair, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, left extensive damage with more than 770 buildings demolished. At least 1,450 lives were lost, according to local authorities on Sunday.
Rojas reported that his family members, including his wife, children, and sister, remained unharmed. “Literally two blocks away from where my family was, two buildings collapsed,” he shared, emphasizing his gratitude for their safety.
At the time of the earthquakes, Rojas’s family was spread across different locations. His wife and kids were in Caracas, approximately six miles from the devastation. Their trip involved personal matters like renewing a passport and pursuing Venezuelan citizenship. His sister resided in Los Teques, about 17 miles inland.
“It’s really tough to see teammates of mine and players that I played with at some point in my career to lose family members, to lose kids,” Rojas commented, highlighting the personal impact of the tragedy.
With aftershocks persisting, Rojas communicated daily with his loved ones. He planned to facilitate their return to the U.S. promptly.
As a gesture of support, both the Dodgers and Padres donned special caps featuring “VZ” during their series in San Diego’s Petco Park. This was to honor Venezuela and its ongoing recovery efforts.
“That means a lot because both teams will be doing it — it means a lot, because it brings awareness,” Rojas commented.
Rojas expressed appreciation for the team’s backing and recognized the long-term journey of rebuilding that lies ahead for Venezuela.
Leave a Reply