In the heart of Detroit, Tigers starter Keider Montero faced a question that cut through the usual post-game chatter: “How is your family doing?” This query wasn’t about performance on the mound, but rather the devastating earthquakes that had rocked his homeland of Venezuela.
Montero, along with two other Venezuelan-born players on the Tigers’ roster, found themselves grappling with the aftermath of a seismic event that has left their country reeling. The earthquakes, with the largest reaching a magnitude of 7.7, have been the most powerful recorded in Venezuela since 1900.
The official death toll sits at 164, but estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey suggest it could tragically rise into the tens of thousands.
For Montero, who hails from Santa Teresa del Tuy, a town roughly 125 miles from the epicenter near San Felipe, there was a measure of relief. “I’ve talked to them, they’re all fine, thank God,” he shared, referring to his family members, most of whom reside in his hometown, with his mother living in Maracay.
The support from the Tigers’ organization has been palpable, with teammates and staff rallying around their Venezuelan players. Relief pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus and second baseman Gleyber Torres are also navigating this crisis. De Jesus, from Valencia, and Torres, who is currently rehabbing an oblique injury, have both received confirmation that their families are safe.
Carlos Guillén, the Tigers’ communications manager and Spanish-language broadcaster, also had his own concerns. His family in Caracas is safe, but the city itself, a bustling hub of 2.2 million, has suffered significant damage. Guillén has taken to social media to guide those wanting to help, highlighting the urgent need for donations of essentials like clothing and toiletries.
The impact of the earthquakes extends beyond the Tigers, touching the wider MLB community. The coastal state of La Guaira, home to stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Maikel Garcia, was hit particularly hard. Garcia shared the anxiety of trying to contact his family, finally reaching them after hours of uncertainty.
Tragically, not all news was of safety. Reports emerged of a hotel collapse in La Guaira, claiming the lives of family members of former MLB players Gorkys Hernández and Eliezer Alfonzo.
The earthquakes struck just before the Tigers took the field against the Yankees, casting a shadow over the game as news filtered through the clubhouse. Manager A.J.
Hinch emphasized the importance of the baseball community coming together to support those affected. “When you see the footage, it’s almost unthinkable,” Hinch reflected.
“As a community, all we can do is love on them and support them, and if there’s something that’s needed or a cause to join, we need to do it.”
In these moments, the game takes a backseat to the human stories unfolding, as the Tigers and the larger baseball family rally to provide comfort and aid to those in need.