Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic Champions Pivot to Earthquake Relief

In early June, Venezuela’s 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) manager Omar López was preparing a November parade to honor the historic championship. On June 24, twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Caracas and La Guaira, killing thousands, leaving many missing, and causing billions in damage. The Venezuelan government later reported a confirmed death toll of 6,125 and that 60,992 people had received hospital treatment, while 43,679 households were affected and 346,755 tons of debris were generated. In response, López and the team postponed the parade and shifted focus to relief.

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The disaster has weighed heavily on Venezuelan-born MLB players. Miguel Rojas described sleepless nights after the quake, saying, “At the end, when I put my head to bed after everything is over, after the show is over, it’s really hard to go to sleep.” Willson Contreras broke down in tears on June 29, reflecting the collective grief. Ezequiel Tovar expressed frustration, noting, “It’s sad because you feel like you’re not doing anything.” López summed up the team’s sentiment: “We were the hope, in terms of perhaps providing some celebrations, some happy days,” and added, “We would like to go there, but just to spend time with our people.”

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Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association pledged a joint $1 million donation to the American Red Cross in late June. Individual players contributed six-figure gifts, including a $100,000 donation from Fernando Tatis Jr. and a community-driven effort by Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, and Néstor Corredor.

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López now aims to bring the championship roster back to Venezuela for a short offseason stay to host clinics, raise funds, and assist with cleanup. He has begun discussions with officials and teammates such as Salvador Perez and Ronald Acuña Jr. The goal is to transform the team’s triumph into tangible support for a nation still reeling from the earthquakes.

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