Pirates catcher Elias Diaz's mother rescued after kidnapping
The mother of Pittsburgh Pirates backup catcher Elias Diaz has been rescued, three days after she was kidnapped in Venezuela.
According to a report in the Venezuelan newspaper La Nacion, six people have been detained in the incident, including one of the family's neighbors.
Ana Soto, 72, was kidnapped on Thursday as Diaz was preparing to travel to the Pirates' spring training home in Bradenton, Fla.
“The Pittsburgh Pirates are relieved and overjoyed to learn that Elias Diaz’ mother, Ana Soto, has been rescued and safely reunited with her family," said Pirates president Frank Coonelly in a statement. "We are incredibly grateful for the swift and effective work of the local law enforcement officials in Venezuela who brought this terrifying act to the safe conclusion for which we had all prayed."
Kidnappings of the relatives of famous people have become fairly common in Venezuela during the nation's current political turmoil.
Many Venezuelan major leaguers have been forced to hire security personnel to keep their families safe. And as Paste BN Sports reported in July, some of the more prominent players have been reluctant to return home.
“I don’t want to leave Venezuela. I wish I could live in my country. It’s the best country in the world,’’ Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia told Paste BN Sports. “It’s a shame that we Venezuelans can’t live in that beautiful land because we have such a bad, corrupt government.’’
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