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Alfonzo Jr. debuts for Dodgers amid Venezuela earthquake loss

7/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., catcher, starts for the Dodgers on Sunday, debuting versus the Padres.
He earned start after Will Smith, catcher, was scratched on June 6 with neck inflammation.
Alfonzo posted a .313/.392/.422 slash line in 49 Triple-A games.
His sister and stepmother died in a hotel collapse during magnitude-7 earthquakes near La Guaira, Venezuela, on the weekend of June 24, while his father, former catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., assists rescue efforts.

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Story summary

Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., catcher, starts for the Dodgers on Sunday, debuting versus the Padres.
He earned start after Will Smith, catcher, was scratched on June 6 with neck inflammation.
Alfonzo posted a .313/.392/.422 slash line in 49 Triple-A games.
His sister and stepmother died in a hotel collapse during magnitude-7 earthquakes near La Guaira, Venezuela, on the weekend of June 24, while his father, former catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., assists rescue efforts.