Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz mother kidnapped

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz has more on his mind then getting ready for Spring Training, as his mother has been kidnapped in Venezuela.

Elias Diaz is in the United States, getting ready for Spring Training with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, one could understand if his mind and hear were thousands of miles away, as his mother was kidnapped from her home in Venezuela on Thursday afternoon.

This is not an unusual occurrence in the country. Back in 2009, Victor Zambrano‘s mother was abducted. That same year, former Rockies catcher Yorvit Torreabla’s son and uncle were kidnapped and held for ransom. Other players, including Miguel Cabrera, have had their families threatened. Some of these players have moved their families from the country, with others hiring private security to make sure they are left alone.

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It is not just family members that are targets. Current Tampa Bay Rays catcher Wilson Ramos was abducted in 2011, and held in a hideout in the mountains. He was eventually freed when armed commandos swept into the compound, setting the catcher free.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are doing the right thing for Diaz and his family. They are working with Major League Baseball to take care of their catcher and his family, putting their resources into resolving the situation. Both the team and MLB are working with the authorities to resolve this abduction and bring his mother back home safely.

At this point, one has to wonder how long it will take for anything to change. Cabrera had ripped into the Venezuelan government last season, saying that he was tired of having to pay to keep his family from being abducted. As players take their families from the country due to fears for their safety, the country will continue to suffer. And yet, little appears to be done to improve the situation there.

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Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz’ mother has been kidnapped in Venezuela. Our thoughts are with him and his family during this difficult time.