Travel Chaos for Athletes as U.S. Military Operation Disrupts Venezuela
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A U.S. military operation targeting Venezuela’s leader has thrown the travel plans of numerous professional athletes into disarray, particularly those with ties to Major League Baseball.
- A U.S. military operation in Venezuela has created significant travel disruptions for athletes.
- MLB teams are working to ensure the safety of their players in the region.
- Flight restrictions and suspensions have complicated travel for those in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
- Spring training is still more than a month away, minimizing immediate impact on team arrivals.
Scores of professional athletes in Venezuela, especially baseball players affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs, experienced significant travel disruptions this week following a U.S. military operation to capture the country’s leader. The unexpected operation has created a ripple effect, impacting players, coaches, and staff across multiple sports.
MLB Responds to Player Safety Concerns
Major League Baseball teams are actively contacting players to confirm their safety, though the league itself has declined to provide specific details or public comment on the situation. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the Venezuelan winter league baseball playoffs were underway before being suspended in the wake of the military action. Play is now expected to resume on Wednesday.
What is the extent of the impact on baseball players? As of Opening Day 2025, there were 63 Venezuelan-born players on MLB rosters, highlighting Venezuela and the Dominican Republic as key sources of international talent for the league. It remains unclear exactly how many players, coaches, and staffers from MLB organizations – including those in the minor leagues – are currently in the region.
The U.S. imposed temporary flight restrictions in parts of the Caribbean on Saturday, coinciding with the military operation. These restrictions compounded existing travel challenges, as the United States has suspended all direct flights to and from Venezuela since 2019. Players and personnel spending the holidays in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic found themselves with limited options for departure.
Teams Offer Support, Monitor Situation
While spring training isn’t scheduled to begin for over a month, alleviating immediate concerns about players missing reporting dates, major backlogs persist in flight schedules. Several U.S. professional sports teams have stepped in to offer support to their Venezuelan athletes, with no major issues reported by teams contacted.
“We have been in touch with them, but we’ve been advised by the league to not provide details until things settle down some,” Bart Swain, a spokesperson for the Cleveland Guardians, said.
New York Mets infielder Luisangel Acuna and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio are among the MLB players who participated in the Venezuelan baseball season this year.
“We have been in touch with our players and staff from Venezuela and all are safe,” Jennifer Grondahl, senior vice president of communications for the Baltimore Orioles, stated in an email. “We will continue to monitor the situation as we get closer to spring training and take the necessary steps to ensure their safe travel to Sarasota.” The Orioles did not respond to further inquiries.
A Chicago White Sox spokesperson reported, “So far, everything has been positive… It’s still too early in this process to offer much more.”
Impact Extends Beyond Baseball
The disruptions weren’t limited to baseball. Multiple Major League Soccer (MLS) teams confirmed they had been in contact with their Venezuelan players, noting that some were not in the country at the time of the operation. Orlando City and Portland both stated they anticipate their Venezuelan players will be present for the start of training camp later this month.
Yair Gomes, a midfield prospect from FC Cincinnati’s program, was in Venezuela during the U.S. operation. A team spokesperson explained that Gomes worked with the club to travel from Venezuela to Colombia and then fly to the United States. He departed Monday and arrived late Tuesday to begin preseason training, a trip that wasn’t originally scheduled so soon.
Requests for comment sent to MLS were not immediately returned.
NWSL Player Also Affected
In the National Women’s Soccer League, Portland Thorns’ Deyna Castellanos, the league’s most prominent Venezuelan player, has been in Venezuela since December running soccer camps and visiting family.
“She is planning on returning to the U.S. next week in preparation for the season and doesn’t anticipate any issues,” Thorns spokesperson Matthew Radmanovich said. “That said, we are available as a resource at any point should she need the club’s assistance.”
