Report: Pirates Catcher Elias Diaz's Mother Kidnapped In Venezuela

The Pirates have released a statement in response to reports that catcher Elias Diaz’s mother has been kidnapped in Venezuela:

The alleged kidnapping was first reported by Venezuelan journalist Mari Montes.

Kidnapping has long been a problem for Venezuelan baseball players, who often have to spend extra resources protecting themselves and their families when they are in the country. Rays catcher Wilson Ramos was himself kidnapped in the country in 2011, and in 2009 family members of former Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba and former Rays pitcher Victor Zambrano were kidnapped in Venezeula.