DENVER—Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba’s 11-year-old son and his brother-in-law were kidnapped but safely released in Venezuela, the family’s home country, authorities said Thursday.
Police in Venezuela said the pair were abducted on their way to the boy’s school and that the kidnappers demanded $466,000 in ransom. Wilmer Flores Trossel, director of Venezuela’s federal police, said no ransom was paid.
It was not immediately clear if the kidnappers released the pair or whether they were rescued.
Flores Trossel said the two were kidnapped and released on Wednesday, but the Rockies said Torrealba learned of the abduction on Tuesday. The contradiction couldn’t immediately be reconciled.
No arrests have been made, but Flores Trossel said investigators have identified six suspects.
Torrealba’s son, Yorvit Eduardo, turns 12 next month. The name of Torrealba’s brother-in-law wasn’t immediately released.
Torrealba left the team, which is playing in Houston, when he learned of the abduction and flew to Venezuela.
Rockies President Keli McGregor said the team was relieved by the outcome and is standing by Torrealba.
“Yorvit knows that he can take the time he needs and will rejoin the club when the time is right,” McGregor said in a written statement.
In some countries such as Venezuela, home to dozens of major league players, relatives of wealthy athletes have been kidnapped in hopes of getting a hefty ransom. Former pitcher Ugueth Urbina’s mother was kidnapped in Venezuela in September 2004 and held for a $6 million ransom. She was rescued five months later.
About the same time, the mothers of five Brazilian soccer players were abducted, including those of star strikers Robinho and Luis Fabiano, in Brazil.
The Rockies put Torrealba on their restricted list when he left for Venezuela. Edwin Bellorin was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take his place on the roster.
Because of Torrealba’s situation, the Rockies didn’t have to make a corresponding roster move.
Torrealba is hitting .230 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 19 games for the Rockies. He had started six of eight games since starter Chris Iannetta was placed on the disabled list May 24 with a strained right hamstring.
Torrealba joined the Rockies in 2006 and played an integral role a year later in the club’s first NL pennant.
His work with young Latin pitchers was lauded as a big reason for Colorado’s first trip to the World Series, where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.
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Associated Press Writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, and AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.
