A former Major League Baseball pitcher, Jenrry Mejia, is among the fortunate few to have narrowly escaped death during the recent devastating earthquakes that have claimed hundreds of lives in Venezuela. Mejia, currently a pitcher in the Venezuelan Major League, attributes his miraculous survival to what he described as divine intervention and an unusual elevator malfunction during the seismic activity.
A Fortuitous Malfunction
Recounting his experience to a Dominican radio station, Mejia explained that he had just completed a workout at the Hotel Eduards in La Guaira. He intended to return to his room, but an unexpected turn of events with the hotel's elevator ultimately led to his escape.
“I was in the gym area, and at that moment, I took the elevator to leave,” Mejia stated during an interview with “Mañana Deportiva.” He continued, “I had actually pressed number six, which was my floor. But I believe it was God’s will because instead of ascending, the elevator descended to the basement. The doors opened directly into the lobby. That was when I stepped out, and the building began to collapse around me.”
Mejia promptly assisted an elderly man in evacuating the hotel. He firmly believes that he and the man were the sole survivors to emerge from the structure alive. “The others are still there, trapped under the rubble,” he lamented.
Devastation and Missing Persons
According to local reports, the Hotel Eduards was providing accommodation for the families of players and staff associated with the Delfines and Guerreros de Lara baseball teams. Among those reported missing are relatives of former MLB players Eliezer Alfonso and Gorkys Hernández.
The official death toll from the earthquakes has climbed to 589, with thousands more individuals still reported missing across the affected regions.
Jenrry Mejia's Baseball Career
Mejia’s career in Major League Baseball spanned parts of five seasons, all with the New York Mets. He rose to become the team’s closer in 2014, a year prior to their World Series appearance. Despite his on-field achievements, Mejia gained notoriety as the first baseball player to receive a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball due to repeated violations of its performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy.
His first offense in 2015 led to an 80-game suspension. After returning to play just seven games, he tested positive a second time, resulting in a 162-game suspension. The following February, a third positive test triggered his permanent ban from the league. Although he has since applied for and received reinstatement, he has not returned to pitch in the major leagues. He did, however, play in the minor leagues within the Boston Red Sox organization.
Earlier this year, Venezuela notably secured victory in the World Baseball Classic.
