Reds Venezuelan players could be in limbo after US invasion – Redleg Nation

If you’ve been under a rock for the past twelve hours, you may have missed the news, but the United States of America invaded Venezuela overnight, bombed a military facility, kidnapped the president of Venezuela and then put him on a ship to take him to the US to be tried for various crimes. They then said that they (the US) will govern the country until some point in the future when things can be peaceful.

There has been a lot of uncertainty in Venezuela for some time now. In recent weeks, things have risen to another level, with the US ordering other countries to avoid the airspace over Venezuela. That left many in the baseball industry wondering how players from that country who were home for the offseason would be able to leave the country and go to the U.S. for spring training.

With what happened last night/this morning, things have taken another step forward when it comes to uncertainty. Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is the first beat reporter I saw have direct information from a team. Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said through a team spokesperson: “We don’t have much information at this time, but are trying to follow up. We know the airports are closed, but not much beyond that.”

From Hogg’s article, he notes that the Brewers “are in a state of flux as they determine how to proceed with their players in Venezuela.”

Molly Knight, who has worked in the sports journalism ecosphere for ESPN, The Athletic and The New York Times, noted the following on BlueSky:

There are many MLB players and prospects from Venezuela. I’ve texted with people in various front offices and no one knows how this will impact the ability of players and their families to get out. A total cluster****.

Baseball isn’t the most important thing in the grand scheme of things here. The safety of those involved is. Yet their jobs, and at least until now, their livelihoods depend on playing baseball in the United States and Canada (as well as many guys playing in Korea, Japan, Mexico, China and Europe). . There are also many players who are not from Venezuela and are currently playing baseball there.

To tie things directly to the Cincinnati Reds, they have a player from the organization currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Jose Franco, a pitcher who was only added to the 40-man roster in November, has pitched in 13 games for Navegantes del Magallanes this winter. Although he is the only player from the organization who played there this winter, he is not the only player from the organization who is home in Venezuela this winter. There are also more minor league players from the country who are back home.

Stay informed…..

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