Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas Reflects on Venezuela Earthquakes Impact

Shortly before the Dodgers played in Minneapolis, powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. The quakes affected Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas’ family, who were visiting there.

The earthquakes measured magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, devastating La Guaira in northern coastal Venezuela. Over 770 buildings collapsed, and at least 1,450 people lost their lives, as per local authorities. Rojas confirmed his family, including his wife and children, were unharmed.

“Literally two blocks away from where my family was, two buildings collapsed — the whole building,” Rojas remarked. “I’m lucky, to be honest with you guys. I’m really lucky to have my family still alive and with me. I’m not taking this for granted.”

Rojas’ family had been in Caracas for personal matters; his wife was renewing her passport and the children were seeking Venezuelan citizenship. Rojas’ sister, residing in Los Teques, also emerged safe from the chaos.

Having played baseball in La Guaira, Rojas expressed the sorrow he felt for teammates and others who suffered losses.

“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 shared. “It’s really devastating. It’s been really hard for me to go to sleep at night.”

Despite the distance, Rojas remained in constant contact with his family in Venezuela, hoping to bring them to the U.S. especially as aftershocks persisted.

In response, both the Dodgers and Padres wore special caps bearing “VZ” for Venezuela in their series at Petco Park. This act aimed to raise awareness and show solidarity with the affected Venezuelan people.

“That means a lot because both teams will be doing it — it means a lot, because it brings awareness,” Rojas indicated. “We are on one of the biggest stages in sports, and I really appreciate what the Dodgers do to support us,” he added. “It’s not just what happens now, it’s what’s going to happen in the future. It’s going to take a long time for people to recover.”

As Venezuela begins the lengthy process of recovery, support from international communities and public awareness are crucial for rebuilding efforts.