Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to make MLB debut despite family tragedy

The biggest moment of Eliezer Alfonzo’s professional career will come amid the darkest moment of his personal life.Ahead of Alfonzo’s MLB debut on Sunday, reports from Venezuela confirmed that his stepmother and 16-year-old little sister — who had both been missing in the rubble of a hotel following last month’s devastating earthquakes in the country — had been found dead.The news came a day after Alfonzo said his family was still holding out hope of finding the two alive.“I don’t know if I’m gonna see her again or not,” Alfonzo told The California Post on Saturday of his sister, Eliana, whom he said had been as eager to see him reach the majors as he had.“But I’m pretty sure God’s gonna give me the blessing to let her see me play here in the big leagues.”According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Alfonzo was still set to start Sunday’s game behind the plate despite the tragedy.

Alfonzo, the 26-year-old son of former MLB veteran catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., has spent almost a decade in the minors awaiting his first big-league opportunity.“I don’t really know what to say about it, outside of my heart goes out to him and his family,” Roberts said.“He is in there.

He’s going to play today.But obviously, heavy heart is not even justifying.

So, yeah, I don’t really want to go too far because I’ll get emotional.I don’t know.

I know it’s tough.It’s very tough.”A longtime farmhand of the Twins who signed with the Dodgers as a minor-league free agent this offseason, Alfonzo received his first career call-up after hitting .313 with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.Upon arriving in the Dodgers’ clubhouse on Saturday, he expressed gratitude for the support he had received from the organization and his teammates.“I’m not gonna lie to you,” Alfonzo said.

“Last week was probably one of the toughest weeks of my life.”Still, his family hadn’t given up on finding his sister and stepmom alive, hoping their prayers ...