Cleveland Guardians Players Go To Bat For Venezuelan Earthquake Fund

Cleveland Guardians players, including Brayan Rocchio and Gabriel Arias, joined Minnesota Twin Pablo Lopez and former star Carlos Baerga for an autograph event benefiting the American Red Cross Venezuelan Relief Fund. Hundreds of fans donated $15 or more, or physical goods, to support victims of last month's devastating earthquake in Venezuela, which claimed over 5,200 lives. The charitable initiative underscored Venezuela's deep baseball roots and players' dedication to their homeland. The Guardians' Team Store also pledged game day proceeds, hoping this act of generosity brings good karma as the team vies for a playoff spot. This community effort highlights the power of sports for humanitarian aid.

Hundreds of Cleveland Guardians fans stood outside Progressive Field for a chance to meet their heroes for a good cause more than nine hours before Monday night’s scheduled game.

They were waiting in line for autographs. They got the opportunity by donating to the American Red Cross Venezuelan Relief Fund to help those in need after last month’s devastating earthquake.

“All of our families are fine but so many people back home really need help,” said Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, one of five Venezuelans to take part in the event. Infielder Gabriel Arias, outfielder Angel Martinez and minor-league outfielder Jaison Chourio also signed all sorts of items.

So did Venezuelan Pablo Lopez of Monday’s opponent, the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt and former all-star Carlos Baerga, one of the most popular players in the city’s history.

First in line was Chuck Branyak of Amherst, a 37-mile line drive west of the ballpark. “Got here at 7 this morning,” he said. “I didn’t want to miss out, but it didn’t really get crowded until a little before 10. I heard the line goes down the street and around the corner.

“Rocchio’s my favorite, see?” he said as he turned around to display the player’s name on the Guardians jersey he was wearing.

With a donation of $15 or more or a physical donation from a list of approved items of similar value, fans got to meet the players and have items signed from 10 a.m. until noon. The Guardians’ Team Store is donating all of the proceeds from sales during Monday’s game to the Venezuelan Red Cross.

The game is expected to draw a large crowd as second-place Cleveland (52-48) seeks to stay ahead of third-place Minnesota (49-51) in the AL Central Division behind the Chicago White Sox (52-46).

Lopez took part even though the Twins’ star is out for the season. He was injured early in spring training and had right elbow surgery.

Fans acknowledged Lopez’s surprise appearance. “That was really great to see,” said John Harris of suburban Lakewood. “I’ll root for the guy when he doesn’t play us. Class act. Makes me feel even better about helping Venezuela. Good people.”

The death toll has surpassed 5,200 from the quake that shook Venezuela on June 24 Associated Press" href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-earthquakes-deaths-d32eecaceabe88b93670e27accabfea2" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">according to The Associated Press.

Winning the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March gave Venezuela so much to cheer in March for a country steeped in years of political upheaval that included the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States in January. Former Cleveland star Omar Vizquel spoke to Forbes.com about the tenseness at the time.

The baseball-mad nation went wild when Venezuela broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning to defeat Team USA for the WBC championship. Rocchio was a late addition to the squad but did not play. He said the victory gave his nation hope that anything is possible amid the turmoil.

“It’s getting better, but there’s a long way to go,” he said.

Chourio’s older brother Jackson of the Milwaukee Brewers played in five WBC games. The right-handed outfielder got an eight-year, $82 million contract before playing his first MLB game. He has hit 21 homers in each of his first two seasons and has 13 homers and a .279 average in 2026.

Jaison, 21, is hitting .297 with 20 steals between Lake County and Double-A Akron this year as a switch-hitting outfielder.

The five Venezuelans signing Monday are among 514 players from that nation to make it to MLB – A-to-Z from Bobby Abreu to Angel Zerpa. The first was pitcher Alex Carrasquel with Washington in 1939. He compiled a 50-39 record until 1945 with the Senators and three games in 1949 with the White Sox.

Carrasquel made his MLB debut in relief against the great Joe DiMaggio and got the Yankee Clipper to fly out. Future Hall of Famers DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey and Joe Gordon went a combined 0-for-10 in Carrasquel’s 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief.

Alex was the uncle of Alfonso (Chico) Carrasquel, the fourth Venezuelan in MLB history when he joined the White Sox in 1950. The slick-fielder began a proud lineage of superb Venezuelan shortstops that includes Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio, nine-time all-star Dave Concepcion, 10-time gold glover Vizquel and several youngsters in MLB this season.

“Omar,” infielder Arias said when asked who was his boyhood hero. Arias said he has met Concepcion, who was idolized by Vizquel. Arias has not met 92-year-old Aparicio. The former 9-time AL base-stealing champ and 9-time gold glover resides in his boyhood home of Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

“I’m here to see my favorite player, Angel Martinez,” said Joan Fisher of suburban Mentor. “I first saw him with the (High-A) Lake County Captains and have followed him. And this is for the people in his home country that need help. I had to be here for this.”

Martinez is the son of catcher Sandy Martinez, who played for five MLB teams, including one game for Cleveland in 2004. Sandy is the uncle of Michael Martinez, an infielder for five MLB clubs (2011-17) including Cleveland.

The Martinez family and many other Venezuelans have played for Cleveland, the first being Chico Carrasquel (1956-58), from the capital of Caracas. That’s the birthplace of Rocchio, Vizquel and numerous MLB stars such as Magglio Ordonez, Cesar Tovar and Andres Galarraga.

Venezuelans who have represented Cleveland as members of the Indians or Guardians in an MLB All-Star Game include Vizquel (1998-99, ‘02), outfielder Vic Davalillo (1965), catcher Bo Diaz (1981), second baseman Manny Trillo (1983), catcher Victor Martinez (2004, ’07, '09), and infielders Asdrubal Cabrera (2011) and Andres Gimenez (2022).

Vizquel played for six MLB teams in 2,968 games – more than any Venezuelan in history and 13th all-time. His finest years by far were in Cleveland (1994-2004).

Vizquel’s keystone partner for many years was Baerga, a three-time all-star second baseman and native of Puerto Rico. Now 57 and part of the team’s ambassador program of former stars, he proudly signed alongside the youngsters.

When Baerga was the sparkplug of Cleveland’s dominant teams in the early to mid-1990s, he often spoke of the special karma the team got from its’ fans. He said players tried to return the feeling.

The Guardians are trying to claim their third straight playoff spot. They trail Chicago by one game and lead Minnesota by three and the Detroit Tigers by 5 1/2.

Doing deeds like getting donations to help victims of an earthquake might bring the Cleveland Guardians enough good karma to get it done. More importantly, the funds are tabbed to help thousands in need. That is already a championship effort.